Some women are unhappy with their bodies after giving birth as a result of social pressure to regain an “ideal” figure, according to new research published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth.

The study, led by Dr. Lydia Boampong Owusu and her team at the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, surveyed 361 women who had recently given birth and were attending Child Welfare Clinics in three hospitals.

The findings revealed that 44% of women were dissatisfied with their bodies after childbirth and 32% reported that their partners were unhappy with their post-birth appearance.
However, about half of the women said that they were happy with their post-birth appearance.

Women reported using various methods to restore their body shapes post-delivery. Wearing belly bands was the most common (29%), followed by drinking weight-loss tea (11%) and eating less (9%). Only a small minority (2%) engaged in exercise.

The study also found that education and marital status significantly influenced how women perceived their bodies.

Researchers said the findings highlight both resilience and risk.
While most women expressed body satisfaction, some relied on potentially harmful practices to meet social standards of attractiveness which could be detrimental to their health and wellbeing.

They stressed the need for supportive health education for couples to promote safe approaches to body care after childbirth with emphasis on self-compassion and partner’s understanding/support.