A talented musician and mother of twins is sharing her experience with body changes during and after pregnancy, along with the societal pressure to regain her pre-baby figure. After being presented with the option of a “mommy makeover” to enhance her postpartum body, she is now advocating for a body-positive message that all mothers need to embrace.
In a candid video for Allure’s Dispelling Beauty Myths series, Jenna Collins reveals her raw feelings about her body after childbirth. She starts by expressing the challenge of rediscovering her sensuality post-delivery. “I remember lying on the bed, wishing to feel that sexy again, and realizing I had no idea how to approach that now,” she recalls. “When I turned to face my partner, I saw the skin just sagging—it felt like a landslide.”
Many can relate; it’s like navigating a whole new identity, which can be incredibly difficult. Throughout her pregnancy, Collins struggled with the unrealistic expectations of “stylish pregnancy,” noting that most of us are simply focused on finding comfort. “I was over 200 pounds and extremely swollen. I experienced muscle diastasis, which meant my abdominal muscles separated to such an extent that I had several inches of excess skin,” she explains.
Upon confronting the changes her body underwent, Collins felt a deep sense of loss for her pre-baby self. “I was mourning her… She represented a conventional standard of beauty. Since then, I’ve brought twins into this world.” To make matters worse, during a tough period, one of her twins underwent cancer treatment. Due to her muscle diastasis, medical staff mistook her for being pregnant, advising her to stay away from her son during chemo—when, in fact, she wasn’t.
Shortly after this distressing time, Collins began experiencing severe back pain. During a visit to a hernia specialist, she was offered a tummy tuck as part of her hernia repair surgery, which also included fixing her diastasis. The surgeon suggested a “mommy makeover,” encompassing a tummy tuck, breast lift, and liposuction. However, Collins declined the additional procedures, opting only for the tummy tuck. Interestingly, she was advised by friends to conceal her surgery and claim her new look was the result of hard work, as if there were any shame in undergoing a medical procedure that addressed her abdominal issues.
Isn’t it absurd how mothers face such societal pressures? Constantly bombarded with the message of “bouncing back” after giving birth, Collins points out that society seems to demand we erase every trace of motherhood from our bodies.
Nevertheless, she is rising above these expectations and embracing her post-baby self. “In a strange way, I feel liberated now. I’m still learning to be comfortable with this freedom, but I’m beginning to rediscover a new sense of sexiness.”
“I want to shatter the myth that we must go to extreme lengths to erase the evidence of motherhood from our bodies. It simply doesn’t work that way. We are still mothers; we have traveled from point A to point B, and we should take pride in every step of that journey.”
We wholeheartedly agree with Collins’ empowering message.
If you’re interested in exploring more about fertility options, check out our other blog post on artificial insemination kits, which can provide valuable insights on your personal journey. For an authoritative source on this topic, visit Make a Mom to learn more about at-home insemination kits and how they can assist in your journey. Additionally, for a comprehensive understanding of artificial insemination, consider reading this resource.
In summary, Jenna Collins exemplifies the importance of embracing the changes that come with motherhood, rejecting societal pressures for a “perfect” body, and celebrating the journey that every mother takes.
Keyphrase: Mom of twins refuses mommy makeover pressure
Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]