Kourtney Kardashian shares powerful message about the ‘pressure to bounce back’ post-birth

After welcoming her fourth child last November, Kourtney Kardashian is saying buh-bye to that “post baby body bounce back” bullsh*t. Kardashian shared a powerful message to fellow moms on Sunday, April 7, sharing why she’s opting for self-love and kindness over unnecessary pressure this time around, and it’s the kind of thing we all need to hear sometimes.

Kardashian shared a couple gorgeous Instagram shots in the ocean during a family spring break trip to Turks and Caicos, joking in her caption that her “diamond earring came off in the ocean and it’s gone.” (ICYDK, it’s a reference to a 2011 episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians in which her sister Kim lost a diamond earring in the ocean. Kourtney’s response? “Kim, there’s people that are dying.” Iconic, and so true.) But when sharing the photo to her Instagram Stories, the 44-year-old penned a poignant reminder about why “bounce back” culture “isn’t realistic.” 

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A post shared by Kourtney Kardashian Barker (@kourtneykardash)

“Your body is beautiful at all stages,” she wrote in the post, which has since expired. “During pregnancy as we are glowing and growing, postpartum as we are healing and shrinking, and then that period I find the hardest as our bodies are still adjusting.”

“And if you’re breastfeeding, that’s a whole other part of it,” she continued. “I try to be kind to myself as my body finds a new normal. The pressure put on us to bounce back when everything is new and different isn’t realistic. Life is beautiful, you are beautiful. Just a little reminder (for me too;) XOXO.”

Kardashian welcomed son Rocky with her husband, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, late last year. She also shares sons Mason, 14, and Reign, 9, and daughter Penelope, 11, with her ex Scott Disick. In a 2013 episode of their reality show, Disick told a postpartum Kardashian that he felt like “93 [pounds] is the dream,” and that her “body was banging” when she was under 100 pounds.

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A post shared by Kourtney Kardashian Barker (@kourtneykardash)

At the time, she responded coolly, noting, “It doesn’t bother me because I have to do what’s best for me. I can’t compare myself to supermodels.” Still, the scene was a painful watch for anyone who has felt pressure—be it from a partner or another loved one—to change their body or “bounce back” for no valid reason.

Thankfully, it seems Kardashian is in a much better place these days, and she’s all about imparting some body-love wisdom with fans and followers. It’s a gentle reminder that your body does so much for you every single day, and it doesn’t deserve to be criticized, shamed, or mistreated by anyone. Period.