TheShapeofaMother.com is an online community formed by mothers, for mothers, to help them cope with the changes in their bodies and the monumental shift from being a child, to being with child, and beyond.

Women can choose their level of anonymity, express themselves without censorship, and bare their bodies without judgment. They receive an outpouring of support, understanding, and acceptance from other women on the site. It’s also a great place for teen moms to find safe harbor without criticism.

The sentiments can range from surprised and excited,

EVE, age 27:

Having spent the last 14 years suffering from Anorexia Nervosa before becoming pregnant I worried about how my changing body may bring back the thoughts, feelings and negativity I had experienced for so long. … I have to say I have been happily surprised by my own reaction. I loved being pregnant, took to it like a duck to water. I enjoyed my ever blossoming bump and showed it off to the max. My worries stuck about how I would feel post-pregnancy, but here I am, 3 weeks after giving birth to my beautiful daughter and feeling (and looking!) fabulous! ” [2 NSFW]

To depressed and disgusted:

REVAE, age 22:

“When Im naked I feel disgusted with my appearance, My husband says he likes my new look and that he thinks that’s the way a mother is supposed to look. But I just feel so unsexy.” [3 NSFW]

Many often also discover how they re-contextualize their bodies, now that they’re no longer just for physical activity or sexual purposes, but for creating and sustaining life.

ANONYMOUS age 25:

“I am still breastfeeding my child and so I think of my breasts in a different light. After feeling they were there to attract, they’ve been drank out for nearly 2 years. At first it felt as if my body wasn’t mine at all, it was just performing all these things for my child. Today it feels like my breasts.” [4 NSFW]

Many frequently open up about other issues as well, such as sexual abuse, domestic violence, resentment toward children, temptations of infidelity, and more.

It’s a forum where any person, female or not, pregnant or not, can be impacted by the honesty and kindness between members. It’s rare to find an online forum with no negativity or judgment, where it’s solely a safe place to feel loved and supported in a time of need.

Thanks to BRITTANY in FLORIDA for this website suggestion!

Sources NSFW – there is nudity on this site.

[1] The Shape of a Mother

[2] “Starting to Bloom” – Eve, 27

[3] “Trying to Cope with My Shape as a New Mother” – Revae, 22

[4] “When did it ever feel like my Body?” Anonymous

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 12th, 2009 at 1:14 AM and is filed under Parenting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.