The news of the award winning singer, Cardi B’s birth to her new baby girl was met with joy and felicitations on social media from celebrities and non-celebrities alike after the rap queen herself uploaded the images to her official accounts.
However, a few days after this celebratory news, the mum of three inadvertently found herself in the center of a raging social media debate. The bone of contention? Her postpartum journey. Cardi B faced an onslaught of criticism for already hitting the gym, mere days after giving birth to her third child.
In response, Cardi B shared that her postpartum journey feels different this time around, mentioning that while she had never been the type to “snap back” immediately after giving birth, she was currently focusing on light cardio exercises rather than heavy lifting or muscle straining to keep her mind active and avoid postpartum depression.
While the opinions of the internet have varied, this incident has served as a reminder to the larger audience on the issue of the society’s pressure for women to ‘snap back‘ to their pre-partum bodies after childbirth.
The Historical Context of the Ideal Postpartum Body
This pressure for women to return to their pre-pregnancy body is not a new phenomenon. For decades, women have been assaulted with images of celebrities who apparently snap back effortlessly after giving birth. This pressure, instigated by magazines, television, and now social media, creates an unrealistic body standard that many women feel compelled to achieve.
Cardi B’s recent experience is a vivid example of how these societal pressures play out in real life, affecting women everywhere, celebrities included.
The Social Media Pressure
Occasionally, my Instagram explore page gets saturated by “before and after” images from accounts of new mothers showing off their bodies post birth. While one can argue that these posts are made to inspire expectant and new mothers, there’s no denying that they can contribute to body image issues due to comparison and self-criticism, which in turn, leads to the pressure to conform.
The Mental and Physical Health Pressure
The pressure on women to “snap back” after pregnancy can have serious implications on their
mental and physical health. The postpartum period is a delicate time of significant physical and emotional change, and when the pressure to lose weight quickly is added, it can become a daunting task.
To top it off, these women will most likely feel compelled to engage in extreme diets and exercise regimens, which can be detrimental to their recovery journey and overall well-being. It’s crucial to recognize that every woman’s postpartum journey is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to recovery.
How Do We Challenge the Societal Norms?
As progressive as the 21st-century society of today seems, certain norms have become outdated, with the need to advance to a more accepting and understanding society.
This entails promoting body positivity, advocating for policies and practices that support new mothers, and of course, self-acceptance.
Healthcare providers, media outlets, and social media influencers all have a role to play in breaking the yoke, changing the narrative and advocating for a more compassionate and understanding view on postpartum recovery for new mothers.
By doing so, an enabling environment where the health and happiness of new mothers trumps the superficial societal standards is created and sustained.
