A mother-of-two has shared a photo of her stretchmarks accompanied by an empowering message about postpartum depression on Instagram.
Alexandra Kilmurray, from Florida, revealed it took her 18 months to be able to look in the mirror and not cry after giving birth to her first son.
She wrote: “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.”
The young mum offered some words of encouragement to mothers who are battling postpartum depression and “still getting up everyday for their children,” letting them know that “things will get better.”
The beautifully honest post was met with dozens of positive responses, with one woman posting: “Beautiful Body, amazing brave lady and great mumma x.”
Another wrote: "I think you are beautiful- inside and out, and you are sending a very strong and positive message to all other young mums."
One new mum commented: "I'm four months pp and cry every day for how my belly looks. I gave birth to a 9 lbs baby boy who I'm madly in love with. I just can't wait to fall madly in love with my body again one day."
And another added: "eight years for me. When you except (sic) your flaws, no one can use them against you. And that I did."
