Mums admit they weren’t prepared for the challenges of childbirth…

A third of mums have admitted they ‘haven’t felt the same since giving birth’.

A study of a range of UK mothers found 78 per cent were ‘shocked’ at the impact giving birth had on their own bodies. More than a third (34 per cent) experienced abdominal pain within the six weeks of giving birth, while 39 per cent endured back pain.

“My own birth and postpartum journey was far from the rosy scenes you see on screen and online. After my emergency C-section I couldn’t walk properly for two months, and the exhaustion was ridiculous.” – Paloma Faith

Others struggled with hormonal shifts (34 per cent), constipation (28 per cent) and sore breasts (43 per cent). And many continued to endure problems throughout the fourth trimester – the 12-week period after giving birth – including struggling to walk (24 per cent) and incontinence (18 per cent).

Commissioned by baby product makers Frida, the research also found six in 10 wish they’d been warned beforehand about what they would go through.

The study forms part of the brand’s ‘Real Birth Announcements’ campaign which aims to help prepare mums-to-be by encouraging parents to share their birth and postpartum experiences. Mum-of-two, Paloma Faith, is backing the campaign by revealing details of her own challenges during childbirth.

“Add on a new-born baby piranha setting my nipples on fire and a sore body and you’ve got a memory you will never forget. Not enough women are prepared for the realities of childbirth and postpartum and that’s why I’m proud to partner with Frida to help encourage open conversations about real birth stories.

“It’s time to challenge the social media perfection posts – let’s start sharing what really goes down.” – Paloma Faith