American singer and songwriter Halsey has spoken out on Instagram about the pressure on women to “bounce back” straight after giving birth.
After their appearance on Saturday Night Live they felt strongly about breaking down the work that went into creating their amazing outfit, adding that it was a “weird feeling” to have fans tell them how great they looked on the show.
“The body behind all those compliments the other night was wearing a custom-tailored outfit and lighted perfectly after much testing, so I could feel good and do my job,” they wrote.
“I do not want to feed the illusion that you’re meant to feel and look ‘great’ immediately postpartum. That is not my narrative currently.”
“No matter what I do, people are going to talk about my body,” they added. “It is a confusing symptom of being in the public eye.”
They described their feelings of disconnection from their body since giving birth: “My body has felt like a stranger’s for a long time. “I uphold myself to honesty to the point of over sharing sometimes but this feels important. The first picture on this slide is days after my baby was already born. A lot of people don’t know that you still look pregnant for a while after.”
Halsey explained their ongoing process of accepting and living in their body as it recovers from carrying and birthing a baby. “It is still changing and I am letting it,” they wrote, adding that their workout routine is not a priority right now, something that is an added pressure for new parents. “I have no interest in working out right now. I’m too tired and too busy playing with my darling son.”
They expressed the importance of solidarity with the parenting community. “If you’ve been following me because you’re also a parent and you dig what I’m doing, please know I’m in your corner,” they wrote. “I will never have my ‘pre-baby-body’ back no matter how it changes physically because I have now had a baby.”
Above all, Halsey has a beautiful take on their postpartum body – that it’s a perfect example of how parenting has impacted them. “It has altered me forever; emotionally, spiritually, and physically,” they wrote.
“That change is permanent. And I don’t want to go back! But in the spirit of honesty, I’m really tired and not a superhuman and this is really hard. Doing my best to serve my art and my family whilst keeping it all so very real. Love.”
What an absolute hero.
