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‘Bachelorette’ Alum Desiree Hartsock Says It’s ‘Empowering’ to Document Her Postpartum Journey
Getting real. Bachelorette alum Desiree Hartsock isn’t afraid to get candid with her fans about her postpartum journey on Instagram.
Fortunately, the response has been nothing but positive. “It’s been good. I think it’s empowering when I see women who just had babies and/or are embracing this fourth trimester,” she exclusively told Life & Style on Tuesday, May 28, while promoting her new line called Zen Came Love — a collection of plant-infused soaps and naturally lush candles — that are available on RivalWorld. “It’s actually been very interesting, too. Just being able to share and then hear how many women feel like they are really excited that people are hearing because when you just have a baby, you often times feel different.”
The mom of two admitted that it’s comforting to speak to this mom community and reassure them that everyone feels the same way. “You feel alone, you have so many hormones and so many emotions,” she said. “So, it’s been really great to be able to connect with other women who just have had babies, especially first time moms, when you aren’t expecting to have these roller coaster emotions and then feel like there’s other women who feel the same way, so it’s been good.”
The 33-year-old and her husband, Chris Siegfried, share two kids — Asher, 2, and Zander, 4 months, and luckily, she didn’t get a lot of backlash for sharing her story on social media. “Mom shaming is so stupid!” she revealed. “I haven’t experienced too much of it. I think when it’s coming off as a positive thing, then you typically get a positive response. I haven’t had too much mom shaming, and honestly, I don’t even care if they do because we all just need to get along.”
In January, the brunette beauty shared an inspiring message to her followers shortly after she gave birth. “I’m not typically one to document or especially share body image pics, but the more and more postpartum pics I see from you all — the more empowering I feel,” she wrote at the time. “The message can be to new moms — or anyone for that matter! So, here I am four days postpartum looking like I’m still pregnant but feeling like a supermodel/warrior. Haha.”
She continued, “It is an absolute miracle what our bodies can do to carry and deliver a baby, and I’m always so fascinated by the sheer wisdom and nature of it all. The fourth trimester is no joke, and it needs to be recognized that a woman’s pregnancy doesn’t end when the baby arrives — there’s so much healing and recovery that needs to take place — physically and mentally when lack of sleep and roller coaster hormones are at work. Not to mention the post-cramping the uterus does to contract back. It’s like labor all over again.”
The wedding dress designer wanted to make it clear that people have to stop holding new moms to an impossible standard. “As a society, we need to embrace the beauty of the body during this time and not expect a new mom to just ‘bounce’ back like her body didn’t just go through battle. It’s feeling beautiful and courageous in our own skin, no matter the stretch marks, the extra weight and whatever else is going on. Grace upon grace upon grace … for ourselves and each other,” she exclaimed. “Long story short: You’re awesome, your body rocks, and you’re beautiful!”
We stan a strong woman. You go, mama!
Reporting by Diana Cooper
