A mother who faced 'body-shaming' after giving birth has responded to her critics 16 weeks following her Caesarean section. Tilly Whitfeld, a former Big Brother Australia contestant, shared an unfiltered video on Instagram wearing a sports bra and shorts to display her recent progress.
'This is how my stomach is healing,' she began, drawing attention to her postpartum abdomen. She then compared its current state to how it looked just 10 days after welcoming her son, Western. 'I have a beautiful scar, but had such false expectations for what your body does after giving birth,' she admitted at the time. Now, however, her body tells a very different story.
'I didn’t realise the extent to which it was frowned upon,' Tilly previously told news.com.au after receiving 'hate' and 'negativity' over her 'unnatural' birth. She continued: 'It’s genuinely disturbing and shocking to see the men commenting who may already have, or will have wives and children of their own one day. Like what happens if their wife ends up needing a C-section? There’s just such a lack of education on the topic.'
Now, the 26-year-old says she is considering whether to stop posting progress videos as her body returns to its pre-pregnancy shape. 'I'm not sure whether to carry on because it looks really good,' she explained. 'The stretch marks are pretty much nearly gone.' Tilly noted that the most 'common' messages she receives are about her stretch marks. 'I don't think they will ever fully go,' she said. 'But with fake tan, if you are really that worried, you can't really see them.'
Although her scar remains visible at the bottom of her stomach, Tilly acknowledged that her skin is still 'loose' but believes others would not notice. 'I just can't believe how far it has come,' she enthused after watching her comparison video. 'Honestly, at the four-month mark I have seen the biggest difference.' She closed with a request to her 132,000 followers: 'Please let me know if these are still helpful or I should stop posting.'
Scores of women urged her to continue. 'These videos are so helpful,' one wrote. 'I haven’t come across another account that has been so transparent about C-section recovery and what actually happens to your body and how it recovers. It would have helped me so much after mine. I’m currently 14 months PP after emergency C-section. There is very limited info / help out there for recovery! Keep doing what you’re doing.'
Another new mother agreed: 'Please keep posting. I’m 10 weeks PP after emergency C-Section and to see another person speak candidly about their recovery is helping with my recovery. My belly looks like yours with the little stretch marks on the side. Makes me feel so much better about myself.' A third praised Tilly: 'I’m 12 weeks postpartum and these videos have helped me embrace my body in this phase of life so much.' While a grateful fourth Instagram user hailed her content: 'I just appreciate the transparency of your account rather than just a highlight reel - it makes us other mamas feel seen and makes it the norm that it actually is. You're an amazing mum and thank you!'
