Postpartum Weight Loss Isn’t Always Healthy: What No One Tells You

There’s something I want to talk about that feels a little controversial in the pregnancy and postpartum space — body changes.

Because for me, it hasn’t been a neat, linear story of “loving my bump” and then “getting my body back.”

It’s been layered. Emotional. Humbling. And deeply eye-opening.

I Loved My Body During Pregnancy

I genuinely loved my body while I was pregnant.

I loved the bump.
I loved dressing it.
I loved watching my body grow my baby.
I loved having boobs (let’s be honest).

There was something so empowering about witnessing my body do what it was designed to do. I felt in awe of it.

And then postpartum came… and my body continued to change. My stomach softened. My shape shifted. And I was okay with that. Because I had grown life.

The Part No One Talks About

But around three months postpartum… everything changed. The exhaustion caught up with me. Then came the postnatal depression. Then the extreme anxiety. I was completely depleted.

In under three months, I lost 14 kilos — which, for someone as petite as I am, was significant. I dropped to the lowest weight I’ve ever been. And I was the most unwell I’ve ever been. From the outside, it probably looked like I had “bounced back.” But inside?
I was running on empty.

This is the part we don’t talk about enough. Weight loss does not equal wellness. Thin does not equal healthy. Looking “good” does not mean you feel good. At my smallest, I was my sickest.

The Shift

Starting the right medication changed everything. It didn’t just improve my mood and mental clarity. One of the side effects was weight gain — and I’ve gained 10 kilos back. And this is the part that feels important to say: That weight gain has been a positive. I am stronger now than I have ever been — and part of that is because of my weight. We do two big walks every day — my son, my husband, our dog and I. I carry my son constantly. I lift him. My arms have grown serious muscle. I have more energy than I’ve had in years. And most importantly? I now have reserves. I am nourished. 

It’s Not About the Scale

This season taught me something I will carry forever:

It’s not about how you look.
It’s not about what the scale says.
It’s about how you feel.

At this weight, I am my strongest.
My clearest of mind.
My most capable.

And that’s the version of me my son gets. The healthiest version.

If You’re Struggling with Your Body Right Now

If you’re feeling self-conscious… if your body feels unfamiliar… if you’re grieving how it used to look…

I gently encourage you to shift the focus.

Instead of asking, “How do I look?”
Ask, “How do I feel?”

Are you nourished?
Are you strong?
Do you have energy?
Do you feel clear in your mind?

Strive to be your most energetic and strongest self — not your smallest self. Your body is not an aesthetic project. It is your home. It is carrying you through motherhood, work, life, love, and healing.

And that deserves so much more compassion than criticism.