Can Having a Baby Make You More Comfortable With Your Body?

Beyonce recently graced the cover of Vogue's power-themed March issue and revealed how she truly feels about her body post-baby. “Right now, after giving birth, I really understand the power of my body. I just feel my body means something completely different. I feel a lot more confident about it. Even being heavier, thinner, whatever. I feel a lot more like a woman. More feminine, more sensual. And no shame," she says.

Beyonce's not the first celeb to claim post-baby love for her body. Christina Aguilara told People, “Some people are afraid of change and [feel] that getting older is a bad thing, but I really love maturing and gaining wisdom. And the experience of being pregnant and having a child and seeing what a woman’s body can do is amazing.” Drew Barrymore, new mom to daughter Olive has said of losing her baby weight: “I’m still working on it, but I’m not worrying about it. We live in a society where everyone’s like, ‘Look at how amazing she looks two weeks out.’ I don’t want to be on that hamster wheel; that’s hell.” And "Office" star Jenna Fisher who gave birth to son Weston in 2011 has said, “Every new mother just gets a free pass. I’m actually angered by the ‘posing in a bikini six weeks after having my baby’ [trend] … Who cares if our boobs are hanging low and we have a little more junk in the trunk? We created a human being, everybody. Let’s celebrate!”

Sure, these women have access to quick fixes such as plastic surgery, private chefs, and personal trainers but their words are refreshing for women to hear, especially in light of past research conducted by the website Baby Center which found that 24 of moms felt depressed after being exposed to the tabloid "post-baby makeover" treatment. To hear celebrity moms not only dismiss the notion that new moms must  look perfect but also have a new-found appreciation for what their bodies mean and what they're capable of is enlightening, to say the least.

Now we're just waiting for the trickle-down effect. According to a Today Show study of over 3,000 women, 31 percent said they hate their bodies after giving birth. Perhaps the secret to true body acceptance is renegotiating the relationship you have with your post-baby self. Yes, your boobs may not be as perky and your hips a bit cushier but their purpose is more significant than whether you can fit into a size two. Nearly a third of moms in the study get it—they said having children made them feel better about their bodies; more confident and powerful.

Here's hoping new moms, famous or not, continue to lead the body-love movement!