I Don’t Recognize Myself: Postpartum Body Image & Grief

If you've ever looked in the mirror and thought, “I just don't recognize myself,” this episode of More Than Mom with Dr. Nichelle Haynes is for you. Dr. Nichelle Haynes, a perinatal psychiatrist and mother, explores the complex realities of postpartum body image, the harmful pressure to bounce back, and the deeper identity shifts that often go unspoken in motherhood.

From hormonal fluctuations and physical changes like diastasis recti, weight redistribution, and hair loss, to the grief of not feeling at home in one’s body, this episode sheds light on how postpartum is a full-body transformation—not just a physical one, but emotional and neurological too.

Listeners will learn:

• The science behind postpartum hormone crashes and how recovery can be difficult
• How societal bounce-back expectations undermine both mental health and maternal identity
• Why postpartum body changes (even at the same weight) can feel so destabilizing
• Practical strategies for reconnecting with the body—through gentle movement, touch, and mindful self-compassion
• How mothers’ self-criticism can unintentionally shape their children’s body image

This episode offers a gentle but honest reframing of postpartum changes as transformation, not loss. Dr. Haynes invites mothers to let go of the myth of bouncing back and instead move forward—with softness, respect, and a renewed sense of self. You don't need to participate in postpartum weight loss, you need postpartum compassion and self-love.

Why Listen:
A must-listen for anyone navigating the emotional and physical aftermath of childbirth—this episode validates the grief, challenges perfectionism, and helps mothers feel seen in the bodies they’re learning to love again.

postpartum body image, bounce back culture, self-compassion, perinatal mental health, postpartum transformation, identity after birth, diastasis recti, postpartum hormone changes, mom identity, gentle motherhood

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