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LOOK: Blogger shares 'saggy body selfies' to empower other moms

6 min read

After her much talked about viral breastfeeding photo which shows her nursing her son Jonah at her sister’s wedding, Australian blogger Haddas Ancliffe has gained tons of new followers on her instagram.

Just me and my baby having a drink (Gotta do what you gotta do, wedding or not) #normalizebreastfeeding
A photo posted by Haddas Ancliffe (@dahs) on Feb 7, 2016 at 5:23pm PST

The internet first took notice when she posted this photo on Instagram, saying,”Just me and my baby having a drink (Gotta do what you gotta do, wedding or not) #normalizebreastfeeding”

LOOK: ‘Breastfeeding Goddesses’ celebrate the ethereal beauty of motherhood

Turns out, it’s not only this photo that deserves to be lauded. Her instagram account is rife with empowering photos that many moms can relate to. Most of which are postpartum ‘saggy body selfies’.

#mombod ✊???? Images of young women in bikinis flood our Instagram feeds daily. Sexual, near naked, provocative pictures that get a lot of attention and make other women who don’t look the same feel inadequate. Well here’s a different kind of provocative image for your feed. An image that says, my body is stretched, sagging and uneven but I’m still attractive. You don’t stop looking good in a bikini once you have kids, you just look like a different kind of good. When your body no longer looks like the Instagram bikini model and you have a mom bod, be proud! Put on your bikini and belly chain, do your best Kylie Jenner in the pool pose and be proud that your child thinks you’re the most beautiful person in the world… That’s all that matters anyway. #motherhood
A photo posted by Haddas Ancliffe (@dahs) on Sep 30, 2015 at 10:26pm PDT

Through these posts she is able to inspire women to love their bodies. She is saggy and proud! And she thinks all moms should be, too.

Here’s an image that might make people uncomfortable! When I shopped for this particular bikini one of the sales ladies told me that I needed to start drinking soy milk and recommended some cream to tighten the skin on my tummy. Now I know she was just being kind and thought she was being helpful but the whole idea that someone offering me ways to change myself could be a kind gesture, really annoys me. First of all – I don’t have a problem with my saggy tummy. Second of all – no body else should have a problem with my saggy tummy ???? Today I went to the beach with a mommy friend of mine and we talked about our stretch marks and imbalanced breasts and all the rest of that body changing goodness, and she mentioned to me that one day we had spent together I had worn a crop top and so she felt confident to start wearing them (it’s also waaaay easier to breastfeed in them). That to me was an amazing thing! So starting now, I’m going to post lots of saggy, stretchy tummy pictures, in hopes that in some way it would make it easier for others to feel comfortable in their skin ✌????️
A photo posted by Haddas Ancliffe (@dahs) on Aug 25, 2015 at 12:07am PDT

Her posts are refreshingly raw and many moms have commended Haddas for her guts and honesty.

“[M]y body is stretched, sagging and uneven but I’m still attractive,” Haddas captioned one of the photos. “You don’t stop looking good in a bikini once you have kids, you just look like a different kind of good. When your body no longer looks like the Instagram bikini model and you have a mom bod, be proud!”

Afternoon laugh with my lover ???? yeah I know my tummy is saggy but I don’t care right now ????
A photo posted by Haddas Ancliffe (@dahs) on Feb 16, 2015 at 9:07pm PST

“Your child thinks you’re the most beautiful person in the world… That’s all that matters anyway. #motherhood,” affirms Haddas.

So this is my tummy nearly 11 months postpartum. It’s covered in stretch marks, has a little sag and is nowhere near as flat as it used to be. Today I’m going back to the gym for the first time since having Jonah. There’s so much pressure in our society for mothers to “get their bodies back” and you feel a constant shame if you’re not working out to do that, but I can honestly say I am not ever going to try to get my body back. I will workout to be stronger but not to change how I look. My body did the most incredible thing a human body could do and it should only ever be loved and appreciated for it. I am beautiful, screw what mainstream society says, I’m sexy too!
A photo posted by Haddas Ancliffe (@dahs) on Jun 25, 2015 at 11:29pm PDT

I have bad days you know… Days where I look at myself and think, I’ll never look like girls on Instagram in their calvins with amazing figures and smooth flat tummies. But I don’t have days anymore where I want to tear off my skin or cry at my reflection. Gone are the days where I’d refuse to go out if I thought I looked bad or get mad at anyone who would compliment me. NOW most of my days I look at myself and I’m happy. My body isn’t where I’d like it to be health/strength wise, my skin sees pimples daily and my hair is mostly in a frizzy bun but I’m beautiful none the less! I’m one of God’s creations which in itself means I am beautiful, glorious even. I want to be real with everyone that’s why I’m saying this, so you know I don’t just have 100% confidence and no flaws. I am flawed, I’m not always confident but I am living and breathing and full of love so I have no reason to be down on myself. Same goes for all of you, whether you’re a mommy or not, if you’re alive you are nothing short of beautiful. #mycalvins P.S these bras are so good for breastfeeding ????????
A photo posted by Haddas Ancliffe (@dahs) on Nov 5, 2015 at 2:49pm PST

Saggy parts? They are to be celebrated! Take it from Haddas: “Stretch marks and imbalanced breasts and all the rest of that body changing goodness.”

Sharing this with the world, she hopes her fellow mamas will embrace their postpartum bodies and be proud of their beauty, whatever shape they’re in!

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Bianchi Mendoza

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LOOK: Blogger shares 'saggy body selfies' to empower other moms

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