Hayley Garnett, a mother from Missouri, recently took to Instagram to share a photo of her stomach alongside her newborn twin daughters. Her caption beautifully captures the sentiment: “All of my babies leave marks on my belly so that I never forget for a second that I grew them in my body all on my own and that they exist earthside with me now! A forever reminder, whether I’m truly confident having these marks or not, it’s no doubt a testament to the miracles my body has made.”
Postpartum Queen
In April 2017, Abigail Wedlake posted a photo of her red, raw stretch marks along with a poignant poem by blogger Cassie Fox and a beautiful picture of her baby girl. Postpartum bodies may differ, but they all embody the beauty of bringing new life into this world.
Inner Beauty Trumps Outer Appearance
“At 28 weeks pregnant, I still struggle with the fact that I have them, but nothing compares to the miracle that’s happening within me, and that’s far more important than what’s on the outside. Thank you, baby girl.”
Unfiltered, Unretouched
In June 2015, a mother of four from South Carolina named Kimberly Henderson shared a mirror selfie, confessing, “Everyone always compliments me on how I have such a ‘perfect’ body after 4 kids.” Her inspiring message encourages fellow moms: “Your body is beautiful… BECAUSE we ARE moms and we ARE superheroes and we freakin’ ROCK, and in my opinion, that is sexier than any 6 pack!”
Your Stretch Marks Don’t Define You
“Our bodies go through a lot, a lot of change, and your body is put through an enormous amount. I am so proud of myself that I carried such beautiful children and gave them food, warmth, and most importantly, all the love that I never thought I had. A scar that I will have for the rest of my life is a tiny sacrifice for a lifetime of beautiful memories with my family. Your stretch marks DO NOT define you.”
