Vile online trolls branded Rebekah 'huge' and even said they wished her baby had been stillborn
WHEN Rebekah Vardy hit back at vile Twitter trolls by posing in her underwear cradling her baby son, mums across Britain breathed a sigh of relief. Body-shamers won’t beat me
AMANDA DOWDALL, 29, nearly broke down in tears when she was asked if she was pregnant – AFTER giving birth to 9lb 8oz Rayne on March 2.
The full-time mum, who also has Darwin, four, and two-year-old Bishop, lives in Manchester with husband Mike, 29, a tattoo artist. She says:
“Just three weeks ago, I was walking with Rayne in her pram and someone pointed out my mum tum.
“They asked if I had another baby in there, despite the fact it was obvious I had just given birth.”
“Rather than feeling like the proud mother I am, I felt like a failure, insecure about my body – a body that had just grown a baby inside it for nine months and pushed out a beautiful, healthy daughter.
“For a few minutes I felt like bursting into tears but soon realised that real new mums aren’t body perfect.
“That is why I admire Rebekah Vardy for posing like this and why I wanted to do the same.”
“It’s time we celebrated our bodies without the fear of being attacked.
“After birth our bodies are swollen and sore. For someone to say something so horrible to me is just wrong, especially when I’m exercising and breastfeeding.
“It is unhealthy and not normal to bounce back overnight.”
JO ALI, 40, was considering IVF treatment just before she found out she was pregnant with her daughter.
The dance instructor gave birth on February 10, ten days after her due date, with baby Ava-Mae weighing 6lb 4oz.
Jo lives in Leeds with 36-year-old husband Matthew, a joiner. She says:
“I have to work out to stay in shape. My tummy has always been my trouble area because I’m very apple-shaped, so weight goes on my stomach.
“I can’t believe how much a little person changes your body. I have a proper mum tum – it’s like a jelly-belly with no tension in it at all.”
“I have stretch marks, which appeared only a few days before I gave birth.
“But they don’t bother me too much and neither does my mum tum.
“I’m breastfeeding so that should help my stomach go down but mainly I’m concentrating on getting Ava-Mae healthier and healthier and keeping myself healthy.”
“It was the most amazing feeling and we’re so lucky to have Ava-Mae – we were just about to start IVF when I became pregnant naturally.
“Rebekah Vardy looked glowing and she’s had four children. She’s an inspiration to every mum.”
Finally, a celebrity made stretch marks and “mum tums” acceptable – and wore both as badges of honour.
STEWART WILLIAMS
Five readers bare stretch marks and mum tums in support of WAG Rebekah Vardy
Little Finley is her fourth child and second with footballer husband Jamie.
Just days after giving birth to him, Rebekah was branded “huge” by sick online trolls, who even said they wished he was stillborn.
But her courage has been an inspiration to her fellow mums.
FAME FLYNET
Celebrity mum Rebekah was slated by vile trolls after posing for pics with her new baby and showing her body shortly after giving birth
FAME FLYNET
Some comments branded her ‘huge’
Here, five come out in support of Rebekah and bravely shed their clothes to show of their own beautiful baby bellies and the miracles they created.
Stretch marks are irrelevant
DESPITE her mum tum sometimes getting her down, Georgi Stevenson, 23, says it ultimately does not matter.
STEWART WILLIAMS
Georgi Stevenson gave birth to daughter Priya in March and was left with a ‘pronounced belly’ and stretch marks
The support worker, from Norwich, gave birth to daughter Priya in March. She lives with partner Bradley Squires, 23, a telecoms worker. She says:
“I do sometimes feel sad about my mum tum but then I look at my happy, healthy daughter and realise it doesn’t matter a bit.
“I was a size 10 before I got pregnant. Now I’m a 12-14 and have quite a pronounced belly.
“I also have stretch marks on both my hips, across my belly and even on my legs.”
STEWART WILLIAMS
Her priority at the moment is her daughter, not her tummy
STEWART WILLIAMS
There is plenty of time for Georgi to get back in shape
“While I was pregnant I didn’t realise how visible they were and I was a bit shocked by them after the birth.
“Most of the time I am fine with my new shape and my stretch marks.
“Occasionally I feel a bit sad that I have a wobbly belly but then I tell myself how irrelevant it is.
“My priority is my little girl, not my tummy.
“After all, what is a mum tum compared to a beautiful daughter? There’s time enough for me to get back in shape.”
I love my soft, squishy tum
JOANNE COOPER, 40, has daughter Drew, 14, son Louis, 11, and welcomed a 7lb 13oz son, who is yet to be named, with partner Chrissy, 34, on March 16.
STEWART WILLIAMS
Joanne Cooper hopes to slim down to a size 8 but is enjoying her mum tum for now
She hopes to slim down to a size 8 – handy then that she and Chrissy work as fitness instructors in Crawley, West Sussex. Joanne says:
“Before I had Drew I was a size 6-8 and went back to that after having her.
“It is different this time though – my belly is soft, squishy and bouncy, and I love it. It is proof I have given birth and adore what it represents.”
STEWART WILLIAMS
The mum-of-three loves what her tummy represents
“I know I’ll have to work really hard to regain the shape I was in, maybe it will take longer than it did before because I’m older, but it should be OK.
“I don’t feel any pressure and I’m quite enjoying having a mum tum for now.
“Rebekah Vardy looks amazing in her pictures but it’s such a shame people are so judgemental and hide behind their keyboards to say such shocking things to her.”
STEWART WILLIAMS
Joanne does not see losing her tummy as the most important thing since giving birth
“Even with all the exercise I do my stomach is still baggy and wobbly but it’s not the most important thing.
“Aren’t we lucky we’re able to do this amazing thing and have babies?”
I will get in shape again when I’m ready
HEALTHCARE assistant Stephanie French, 31, is proud of her body. She gave birth to 9lb 6oz Samuel on March 26 at her home in York, with husband Jamie, 31, a teaching assistant, by her side.
STEWART WILLIAMS
Stephanie French gave birth to son Samuel on March 26 at home
She also has George, six, and Alex, three. Stephanie says:
“I do have a baby belly because I only gave birth a few weeks ago – but that’s not what’s important.
“My body has created and given birth to three beautiful boys, so what’s not to be proud of?”
STEWART WILLIAMS
She feels proud of her tummy
“I’m proud of my body and in time I will get back into shape, but for now my main focus is the special bond I have with Samuel and spending time with my family.
“I think it’s terrible that people try to shame people in the way they do, and usually it’s other women.
“As women we should be building each other up, not putting each other down.
“I’ve never had any negative comments made, my husband is really supportive and always complimenting me and saying how good I look, which is lovely.”
STEWART WILLIAMS
Stephanie believes it is more important for her to spend time with her family than worrying about her tummy
“The first time I was pregnant I was concerned about what it would do to my body because it changes so much and there is a pressure to get back into shape, but there shouldn’t be.
“Rebekah should be proud of her body – she looks great and is a good example to other new mums.”
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