Your body goes through some of the most overwhelming changes during and after pregnancy. It can be extremely daunting, especially for new mums like Brooke Vincent, who are experiencing these changes for the first time.
The Coronation Street star welcomed her first child, a boy named Mexx, last month. In a powerful open letter, the actress admitted that she felt ashamed for not being able to pick up where she left off.
She explained that she was supposed to get dressed up for the evening but struggled to find something that made her feel beautiful.
“Tonight I was supposed to look completely different, I was supposed to be dressed up, hair and make up done. ready to eat some nice food and maybe have my first cocktail in 11 months with Kean, our first time away from Mexx for an hour or two, instead I look like this,” she wrote alongside a photo of her in her pyjamas.
Brooke continued, “I look like this because I naively thought that 4 weeks after my baby I would be in all my old clothes looking exactly like I did before I got pregnant. I thought my jeans would instantly fit and I would just be my “old self” only with my new beautiful baby.
“How wrong I was, I tried 23 outfits on at least, nothing looked right, nothing looked like me and I felt like I was looking at a completely different person, I suppose to a certain extent I now am, I am Mexx’s mum,” Brooke reflected.
The soap star said she sobbed after trying on the bundle of different outfits.
“I sat and cried and felt ashamed that I haven't been able to pick up where I left off like people seem to do here on Instagram! The reason for this post is that even when you’re in this bizarre industry you still get sucked in, you still feel a certain way when you see others posts. So this was so important for me to say, for all the women who think they should look, act or feel a certain way after a baby DONT! Don’t beat yourself up,” the new mum pleaded.
"Do you and if 4/6/8weeks or even a year after giving birth you don’t fit in your old clothes don’t worry, you can always join my club. It’s important to be honest because being a new mummy is daunting enough! The most important thing is me & Mexx are healthy & happy and as soon as my baby boy looked at me, I realised he doesn’t care if I fit in my old jeans or not .. So I guess creased watermelon PJs & slippers for now it is,” Brooke added.
Preach it, Brooke!
