29 July 2023 , 10:59
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Former EastEnders star Melissa Suffield has hit out at bounce back culture as she proudly showed off her body after having a baby.
The mum-of-one and former Lucy Beale actress, 30, is often praised for advocating body positivity and opening up about the struggles of motherhood.
In Instagram videos, Melissa, who showed off her "pre-baby body" in floral lingerie, opened up embracing her post-partum body and slammed "bounce back" culture for pressuring women into achieving their pre-pregnancy weight and shape after giving birth.
While sharing the clip in her bra and underwear, the former soap star, who had her son River in March 2020, wrote: "Want to know what makes me mad? Bounce back culture.
"New mums already have a LOT of pressure. They’re keeping this new ACTUAL person alive, learning how to do it, trying to heal from birth..."
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Melissa Suffield flaunted her post-baby body on social media (Instagram/ @the.confidentmama)
Melissa Suffield hit out at bounce back culture (Instagram/ @the.confidentmama)She added: "Being bombarded with ads for the dream product that they probably don’t need, worried about why their baby isn’t sleeping through yet because they saw a £500 course that promised them the solution- the LAST thing they need to be worrying about is bouncing back to their pre baby body.
"It’s simple really. You don’t need to ‘bounce back’. There is absolutely no time limit on postpartum. You’re GOLDEN mama." She added: "Did you feel the pressure to snap back after giving birth? How did you make it through?"
Fans of the star shared their own experiences dealing with the pressure of quickly achieving their pre-pregnancy bodies.
Under Melissa's inspiring post, one person said: "I was 'lucky' if that's the right word, that when I was pregnant the extra weight was all baby. Fast forward 8 years, post hysterectomy, possibly perimenopausal, and I'm starting to accept the body I have now."
Another said: "Whenever I feel crap about my mum bod I see this and you just make everything better. I birthed a child and I love to eat! Sod it."
And a third said: "Love you girl!!! You give me so much inspiration & confidence to love my body like you do. Keep doing you, you are amazing."
Since leaving Albert Square, Melissa has appeared in Casualty and also took part in a celebrity version of Total Wipeout.