The truth about your ‘pre-baby body’...you were never meant to bounce back!

If you’ve ever stood in front of the mirror and thought,
“I don’t even recognise myself anymore…”

You’re not alone.

So many of the women I work with tell me their confidence changed dramatically after having kids - and not just because their body looked different.

It’s deeper than that.

It’s the feeling of being unfamiliar with yourself.
Of not knowing how to dress this new body, this new identity.
Of feeling distant from the woman you used to be - and unsure who you’re becoming now.

And then, on top of that?

We’re told to “bounce back.”

Quickly. Quietly. Preferably without complaint.

The “bounce back” message isn’t just about weight.

It’s a pressure to return to the woman you were before motherhood - in body, in behaviour, in productivity, in energy, in mood.

As if none of it should have changed you.  As if this huge transformation wasn’t meant to be… transformational.

But here’s the truth:

You’re not meant to bounce back.
You’re meant to move forward.

And the version of you that exists now - the one who has shown up day after day, through sleep deprivation, overwhelm, joy, uncertainty, grief, love, stretch marks and all - she deserves to be honoured, not erased.

You don’t need to get your “pre-baby body” back.  Because your body didn’t go anywhere.  It grew and stretched and softened and protected.  

It changed - yes.  

But that change is not failure.

It’s evidence of life.
Of strength.
Of presence.

But what happens when every message we hear - on social media, on the morning TV shows, online, or sometimes amongst family or friends tells us otherwise?

What happens when we start to absorb messages like: 

“You’ve let yourself go.”
“It’s time to get serious about your health.”
“You’re not eating for two anymore.”
“Don’t you want to set a better example for your kids?”
“You’ve really changed since having the baby…”
“When are you getting back into your fitness routine?”

The message underneath it all?

You’re not allowed to feel good in a body that looks like yours.

And that’s where confidence begins to crumble.  Not because you’ve done something wrong…

But because you’ve been told to measure yourself against a version of womanhood that doesn’t allow for softness, slowness, or change.

And yet:

You’re still here.
You’re still showing up.
You’re still carrying the emotional and mental load of your household - even when your own cup feels empty.

That’s not weakness.
That’s strength.

Confidence doesn’t come from “getting your body back”, {{ first_name }} - it comes from reclaiming your body now.

From learning how to listen to it instead of ignoring it.  

From rebuilding trust through consistent care.

From honouring its needs - not overriding them.

And from letting go of the idea that it has to look a certain way in order to be respected.

Because confidence doesn’t come from bouncing back.

It comes from acceptance - of the body and the woman you are now.

Em x

P.s If this is the kind of support you’ve been looking for, here’s how I can help: The waitlist for my 12-month coaching program with an early bird saving of $500 is now open

Bach HSc (Nutrition & Psychology) ~ Mind Body Eating Coach ~ Remedial Therapist www.emmaanderson.com.au