Mum's honest post: 'No one warns you about the dark sides of motherhood and pregnancy'

Publish Date
Monday, 16 January 2017, 8:46AM
Photo / Instagram

Photo / Instagram

A mother-of-two revealed it took her "18 months not to cry" when she looked in the mirror after giving birth as she shared a picture of her body as she lay next to her infant son.

Alexandra Kilmurray, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, posted the image on Instagram alongside an empowering message about the reality of being a new mother, according to the Daily Mail.

Alexandra, who has two sons with husband Bryan, said it had been a "long and rough postpartum ride" and gave words of encouragement to mothers "who are battling postpartum depression and still getting up every day for their children".

The post has received hundreds of likes and positive comments since it was shared on the photo sharing app two days ago. 

Well, I know a lot of you guys are probably thinking 'why would she post this picture', but, it took me 18 months to get here, 18 months to not cry when I look in the mirror, 18 months to finally feel beautiful in my own skin again! No one warns you about the dark sides of motherhood and pregnancy.. no one gives you a heads up on how much you change physically and mentally after you become a mother. It's been a long and hard postpartum ride for me.. 18 months after my first son and 5 months after my second son I feel like I can finally see the light ✨ and it genuinely feels amazing💖 cheers to you mamas who are battling postpartum depression and still getting up everyday for your children! Cheers to you mamas who still cry about the marks on your skin from birthing your perfect babies! Cheer to motherhood, cheers to knowing that this too shall pass! And things will get better💗 #motherhood #breastmilk #breastfeeding #normalizebreastfeeding #mommyandme #tigerstripes #postpartum #postpartumdepression #babies #mombod #proud #inlove

A photo posted by Alexandra (@alexandrabrea_) on Jan 12, 2017 at 2:59pm PST

The image shows Mrs Kilmurray lying on her bed with one of her sons. Wearing a crop top, the stretch marks on her stomach are clearly visible. 

In a lengthy caption to the image, she wrote: "I know a lot of you guys are probably thinking 'why would she post this picture', but, it took me 18 months to get here, 18 months to not cry when I look in the mirror, 18 months to finally feel beautiful in my own skin again!"

Mrs Kilmurray, who runs an online Etsy store for mother and baby accessories, said: "no one warns you about the dark sides of motherhood and pregnancy". 

A photo posted by Alexandra (@alexandrabrea_) on Jan 11, 2017 at 8:57am PST

She also shared no one had told her about how much she would change "mentally and physically' after giving birth to her sons, now 18 months old and five months old. 

The mother-of-two added she can "finally see the light" after a "long and hard postpartum ride".  

She ended the post celebrating other mothers "who still cry about the marks on your skin from birthing your perfect babies", adding: "Things will get better". 

The searingly honest post was met with dozens of positive responses, one woman wrote: "You are strong, beautiful, inspiring, and a super mum!"

Another posted: "Looking at this pic all I see is a beautiful baby & it's beautiful mother who makes selfless decisions & sacrifices everyday for her kids."

- Daily Mail 

 

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