Former EastEnders actress Melissa Suffield has frankly talked about her post-baby figure – and how she is torn over her feelings about it.
The actress, who played Lucy Beale in the BBC soap, welcomed her son River 10 months ago.
Writing in Grazia magazine, the actress, 28, penned: ‘Some days, I absolutely detest the body that pregnancy has left behind. I’m not unrealistic. I did not expect for one second that my body would snap back as soon as I’d given birth.
Candid: Former EastEnders actress Melissa Suffield has frankly talked about her post-baby figure – and how she is torn over her feelings about it
‘What was left was a woman I didn’t recognise anymore. She was a stranger, and she was upsetting me, so in return I wasn’t kind to her. The message is clear. Love yourself!
I can appreciate my body and everything it has given me, while still wanting to better myself. I can mourn my pre-baby stomach, and still be grateful that it grew my baby. I can want to it back into my favourite pair of jeans, without it being because I’m conforming to unrealistic and dangerous beauty standards.
‘I can want to shift some of the weight I gained beyond my control during pregnancy, without it making me fatphobic.’
Melissa shares River with husband Robert Brendan and last week shared a candid snap of herself to Instagram, highlighting her current figure.
Nearly one! he actress welcomed her son River 10 months ago
Writing in Grazia magazine, the actress, 28, penned: ‘Some days, I absolutely detest the body that pregnancy has left behind. I’m not unrealistic. I did not expect for one second that my body would snap back as soon as I’d given birth’
She captioned it with the following: ‘I am body positive. Overall, that much is true. But it can feel toxic sometimes, this message that you must love your body, whatever.
‘I can see my body and recognise its worth, but I can also set myself a goal. After all, having a project is good for the soul and the mind.
‘Almost 10 months on and I’m still feeling the effects of pregnancy. The stretch marks have faded a little, and genuinely don’t bother me anymore.
She added: ‘What was left was a woman I didn’t recognise anymore. She was a stranger, and she was upsetting me, so in return I wasn’t kind to her. The message is clear. Love yourself!’
Honest: Melissa shared a candid snap of herself to Instagram, highlighting her current figure, with the above caption
‘My stomach overhang looks like the side view of a blob fish (yes I did literally draw this onto a photo of my stomach to send to my mate) and has made me laugh and cry in equal measure.
‘My hips ache daily, sometimes to the point where I can’t carry River. That bothers me a little more.
‘I’d love to be able to exercise a little, but physically, it’s not possible to do more than a 20 minute walk per day, and that isn’t cutting the mustard when it comes to improving my fitness or my mood.
New parents: Melissa shares River with husband Robert Brendan
Rise to fame: The actress portrayed played Ian Beale’s daughter Lucy in EastEnders for six years, but was axed from EastEnders over her ‘unruly behaviour’ in 2010
‘But also, my body makes milk that feeds my kid. My body has my brain, which even though it gets fuzzy these days, is creative and quick. My body has travelled, learned, laughed, been put through its paces, danced, and been with me every step of the way.
‘So it’s a complicated relationship right now. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to shift it back towards something I recognise (as much as my hips and breastfeeding constant hunger will allow of course lol) but I’m also going to try really hard not to put too much pressure on myself.
‘Keep drinking water, keep trying to walk whenever I can, and keep myself busy.’
The actress portrayed Ian Beale’s daughter Lucy in EastEnders for six years, but was axed from the soap over her ‘unruly behaviour’ in 2010.