Stephanie Weinberg (36), Erin (7), Dean (5), and Alex (1). You can view Stephanie’s original image and story from 2018 here.
Bethesda, MD | Washington, DC
“I'm incredibly fortunate to have had an easy time getting and staying pregnant! The biggest struggle I faced during my pregnancies were the incredibly overwhelming (but, eventually managed) feelings of depression and anxiety. I felt solely responsible for this precious, innocent baby growing inside and felt it would be my fault if anything happened. Before getting professional help and eventually getting on anti-anxiety medicine, I couldn't even get in the car to drive to the grocery store because of panic attacks.
How has parenthood impacted your body image?
Before parenthood, my definition of body image would have been solely focused on physical fitness and fitting into a certain size. Now a parent 3x over AND being over 35, I find my body image changing to be more kind to myself. I'm still working on believing that my clothing size doesn't define me because, the fact is, clothes fit differently now and I will always be "postpartum".
What was your postpartum experience?
For any new mama out there, IT GETS EASIER. I want to SHOUT THAT FROM THE ROOF TOPS!!! After my first daughter, I really struggled with postpartum depression and anxiety. She was just such a bombshell into our world, though she was planned and wanted very much! Breastfeeding was hard, and I was trying to keep up appearances like "everything's fine..." But it certainly wasn't!! With my second child, breastfeeding was much easier, I was already seeing a therapist, and I was already on medication so postpartum was so much easier! While sleep deprivation is a real bitch no matter how many times you go through it, I had more confidence in myself as a mother. And it was wonderful to truly know that each phase is HARD and each phase PASSES and each phase is wonderful in its own way. I was really happy to enjoy it. And now with my third child, I'm gaining some sense of peace. Because there is a 4 year gap between #2 and #3, I feel that I can really enjoy and appreciate his baby-ness. I'm reveling in each phase because I know it will be our last. And I feel very blessed with the family that we have.
What is your truth?
I wish someone told me "This may be everything you ever dreamed of, but it's still going to be really fucking hard. And that's ok. You're still a great mom."
Why did you choose to participate in this movement and share your story?
I'm here because we need to grow our supportive community - the community that doesn't give a shit what you do for a living, or what you look like, or how you choose to spend your life. The only thing that matters is that you love, you treat others with respect, and you're honest. Community is so important and, if you don't have it with your traditional family, there is a whole lot of us 'other families' that will love and support you.