10 Moms Who Don't Have Time For Body Shaming

"Rude comments like these will never make me feel the need to change anything about myself."

21 March, 2018
10 Moms Who Don't Have Time For Body Shaming

As if being a woman on the Internet wasn't already difficult, moms of all shapes and sizes are getting body shamed on social media during and after their pregnancies. Whether they are in the public eye, have gained a few well-deserved pregnancy pounds, or lost them all too quickly, mom's just can't seem to catch a break. See the 10 moms below who are speaking out and not tolerating any of this body shaming bullshit. 

1. "If you think the answer is the number on a scale, I am telling you it is not. " -Ashley Glass

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After having Postpartum Thyroiditis, mom Ashley Glass, experienced extreme and rapid weight loss after giving birth, and received body shaming comments from co-workers about her "sickly" appearance and even heard rumors that she had an eating disorder. Despite her own struggle, Glass posted on her blog this month that she wants everyone to be supportive of others no matter what they see on the outside: "And shouldn't we put our arms around the women in our lives and tell them that they are freaking rock stars, child bearing or not?" Amen.

2. "Rude comments like these will never make me feel the need to change anything about myself." -Katie Fehlinger

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In August 2015, meteorologist Katie Fehlinger took to Facebook after receiving nasty comments about how she looked on TV while pregnant; being compared to a "sausage in casing" was one of the crueler insults. She said that while not everything that comes along with pregnancy is particularly "glamorous," bringing a new life into the world is incredible and women should not be shamed for anything that it entails.

3. "I'm still working because I am fit and healthy. If I had any complications, any pain or concerns, I wouldn't be working. But I don't." -Deborah Knight

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Just this month, Australian television broadcaster Deborah Knight, experienced a similar situation to Fehlinger's. Knight was body shamed by a viewer via email after going on-air right before her maternity leave began, and shared the email on her Twitter account.

[twitter ]https://twitter.com/deborah_knight/status/690661274049347584" >

She gracefully expressed later in an interview that she was, "more disappointed than offended that someone would genuinely hold that view in a modern era."

4. "As long as the baby is healthy I don't think anything else matters." -Sarah Stage

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Mother and model, Sarah Stage, was body shamed after sharing pictures of her fit pregnant belly on Instagram. Her followers were quick to comment negative things about her toned physique such as, "Where's this baby hiding at?? Definitely not her tummy!!" Others questioned her and her baby's health due to her toned pregnant body. Stage spoke out to Good Morning America about the criticism and said, "I don't know how someone could say something like that to a pregnant woman... I think that is so rude. My baby is healthy and we are happy."

5. "Constantly labelling people and piling expectations associated with these labels on them is harmful to everyone." -Mel Rymill

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In November, Mel Rymill posted a photo of herself on Facebook in what she called "nana undies" and a nursing bra to empower other moms and women after a physical trainer assumed her only goal at the gym was to get back to her pre-baby body. She condemned labeling others saying that the pressure put on others to look a certain way isn't a positive thing for anyone involved, and that everyone should only worry about if people are healthy, instead of what they look like on the outside. #Badassundies indeed.

6. "If I'm happy and accepting of my body, why can't everyone else just be happy for me?!"-Brittany Dykstra

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In August 2015, Brittany Dykstra spoke out about body shaming to Today.com after receiving tons of negative and rude comments on her maternity photographs- she was called overweight and told that her child would be "ashamed" of her. To stand up for herself, Dykstra participated in the Honest Body Project and posed in just a bra and pair of underwear while pregnant proving her statement that, "A plus-size woman can be beautiful, even if she's pregnant. It's something to celebrate, not shame."

7. "Even a little joking comment could do some damage​" -Kristi Gordon

Meteorologist for ​Canadian Global BC News​, Kristi Gordon, is no stranger to being shamed for her pregnant body. During her first pregnancy, Gordon received numerous hate emails from viewers for her on-air appearance that were full of comments such as "BUY some DECENT clothes and have more respect for the unborn child, you're not the first pregnant woman. OMG." In response, Gordon posted on the Global News blog this past March asking her viewers to be nicer and more understanding during her second pregnancy. She went on to say, "I love my job and I'm going to keep doing it as long as I can – and I'm not spending any more money on maternity clothes…especially muumuus.​" ?

8. "I'm not sorry that my body has housed, grown, protected, birthed and nurtured five fabulous, healthy, intelligent and wonderful human beings​." -Tanis Jex-Blake​

Mother of 5, Tanis Jex-Blake was at the beach with her children when she heard a few young beach-goers saying her stomach was "f*cking nasty​" and making gestures towards her [via Metro News]. Naturally upset, Jex-Blake went home with her kids then posted on Facebook about her experience saying," I'm sorry that my belly is covered in stretch marks. I'm not sorry that my body has housed, grown, protected, birthed and nurtured five fabulous, healthy, intelligent and wonderful human beings​." Her post went viral shortly after being published.

9. "On behalf of all of the pregnant women out there who might be feeling a little bit chubby and bit flabby, I want to say to the haters, get stuffed!​" -Sarah Harris

After a news site published candid photos of mom and Australian news anchor, Sarah Harris, while she was 7 months pregnant, she decided to call out her body shamers publicly. On-air Harris spoke about how disgusting the comments on the photos of her were, and that while she felt bad about herself at first, she quickly realized that there was nothing wrong with her body. She then addressed her fellow moms and said, "I hope those photos make other pregnant women feel better about their bodies because I'm kind of fed up with the body-shaming that happens when you're pregnant and then the pressure that comes afterward to lose the baby weight." 

10. "Don't let someone else's negativity ruin your day or even stress you out during your own pregnancy" -Stacie Venagro

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Surprisingly, Stacie Venagro, mom-to-be and three-time World Miss Fitness America Pro and 2014 Miss Fitness Universe, has not gotten much hate for her fit body during her pregnancy. While discussing her pregnancy with Mom.me this month, Venagro said that she hasn't received any negativity on social media: "No, and I have to say, I'm shocked. It's mostly been from family. My husband thinks I need to eat more." However Venagro did have some inspiring words for other moms with small bumps saying "Don't let someone else's negativity ruin your day or even stress you out during your own pregnancy. One person may gain 15 pounds and the next may gain 100 pounds; everyone is different. You can only compare yourself to who you were yesterday." Right on.

Credit: Cosmopolitan
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