Kareena Kapoor Khan recently launched her book ‘Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Pregnancy Bible’, where she revealed personal anecdotes about her two pregnancies and how they affected her relationships, her eating habits and more. But one of the most candid confessions was on her postpartum body, which is a message for all women.
Video Credit: Instagram/kareenakapoorkhan
In an Instagram live with BFF Karan Johar, Kareena admitted that when she looked in the mirror, she often wondered if she was going to be okay. “Being an actor, there is a part of you–it is not vanity, it is about wanting to feel, ‘Okay fine, I am fit and I can be back again on my toes,’” she said. She admitted that unlike her first pregnancy with Taimur, which was relatively easier and gave her the courage to have another child, her second pregnancy was very difficult. She added that during the first 10 to 15 days after Jeh’s birth, she was delirious owing to the lack of sleep and would often sit in the bathroom and have periods of self-doubt. She stresses that the most important thing post the birth of a child, is that there should be equal focus on the mother too, and that’s where the father comes in.
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Weight gain occurs during pregnancy, and amongst Indian society, it is actually encouraged. However, once the baby is born, new moms are often body-shamed and pressured to lose the weight almost instantly, much like many celebrities who ‘bounce back’. Coupled with postpartum depression, lack of sleep and being overwhelmed with a new baby, the thought of losing weight can really have a crippling effect on a new mom’s mental and physical health.
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Which is why, Kareena’s admission on having self doubt is important, especially in a country like India where Bollywood stars are revered. Unlike many of her peers, Bebo had very visible pregnancies, working with a huge baby bump and she wasn’t afraid to be photographed taking walks around her building complex or sharing Instagram pictures of herself working out.While Bebo being in the entertainment space has access to a dietician i.e Rujuta Divevkar and her personal trainer Namrata Purohit, she had this to share for new moms: “New moms should go for a walk for 30-minutes to stay fit and healthy and that also helps improve their mental health.”
We’re glad Kareena started this refreshing conversation on postpartum bodies, instead of just waiting it out and showing off her svelte body in a few months post delivery and making us mums feel left out. Kudos to her! We need more women like you, Bebo!
Photo credit: Instagram/kareenakapoorkhan
