Bachelor Nation's Carly Waddell Celebrates Postpartum Body 3 Weeks After Son's Birth

If you’re a Bachelor fan, you know that the quirky pairing of cruise ship singer Carly Waddell and erectile dysfunction specialist Evan Bass found love on the ABC franchise’s steamy Bachelor in Paradise spinoff. They’ve since married and had two children: Isabella Evelyn (Bella), almost 2, and Charles Wolfe (Charlie), 3 weeks. They also share Bass’s three sons from a former marriage.

Waddell took to Instagram yesterday and then today to share — and celebrate — images of her postpartum body, and we are seriously here for it.

Waddell first posted a shot of herself standing in her underwear, cradling her newborn son. She wrote, “It’s amazing how your heart can just expand. I was so worried I wouldn’t be able to love Charlie in the way I needed and wanted to because of how much I loved Bella. How could I possibly love someone else as much? Did I even have that capability? But what a wonder the heart is…it just opens up and fills with more love than anyone could ever begin to understand. It’s magic. 3 weeks have gone by and I love this little boy more and more everyday. What a beautiful blessing.”

Today Waddell revealed more to fans and followers about her evolving relationship with her body image, with a new post: a picture of Charlie nestled against his mama’s soft belly, and family dog in the background.

She captioned the post, “I used to be soooooo worried about what my body looked like…I remember the first season I went on Bachelor in Paradise I wore cover ups the whole time because I was soooo insecure about my curves and my cellulite and my boobs not being as perky as the other women. Now I look at my body with so much love and appreciation. It created this little life.”

Waddell continued, “It is bigger in so many ways and healing in so many ways. It will change again, get smaller and bigger and go through other stages of life, but I’m so greatful for the rolls on this stomach right now and the stretch marks on my boobs. They prove I have been living that great mom life! For any of you ladies looking in the mirror at your bodies right now, high-five that mirror! You’re doing great! You’re beautiful! And you are a bad a** woman!”

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I used to be soooooo worried about what my body looked like…I remember the first season I went on Bachelor in Paradise I wore cover ups the whole time because I was soooo insecure about my curves and my cellulite and my boobs not being as perky as the other women. Now I look at my body with so much love and appreciation. It created this little life ❤️ It is bigger in so many ways and healing in so many ways. It will change again, get smaller and bigger and go through other stages of life, but I’m so greatful for the rolls on this stomach right now and the stretch marks on my boobs. They prove I have been living that great mom life! For any of you ladies looking in the mirror at your bodies right now, high-five that mirror! You’re doing great! You’re beautiful! And you are a bad a** woman!

A post shared by Carly Waddell (@carlywad) on

Commenters responded warmly to Waddell’s post.

One wrote, “Thanks for sharing this!! I had my son Rowan 15months ago and I still get down on myself.”

Another said, “You’re beautiful! I needed to hear this today! It’s a good reminder as I look at my body, getting ready to go on a family vacation and it’s not what I’m used to. But this beautiful body gave me a handsome son eight months ago and I’m grateful for it. He is the world! Thanks for the inspiration… Women are amazing!”

Waddell was also candid about her struggle to breastfeed — and her choice to feed with formula.

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It’s been a week since Charlie was born, he is the greatest blessing and one of the greatest lessons for me as a mom. I had all these hopes and dreams that postpartum would be easier this time. But I still ache. I’m healing. I’m tried. Bella was such a colicky newborn. She cried and cried for months. Threw up. Had gas pains. I breastfed for months because that’s what I was told was “best”. When I changed Bella to formula, she was a new, happy little baby. This time, I had hopes that Charlie would be different. But it just isn’t the case. I decided to stop breastfeeding and try him on the same formula Bella was on, and within a bottle or two he was so happy. He stopped crying. He could relax. He could sleep. He smiled. There is such a stigma about breastfeeding. If you don’t do it, you don’t care about your children’s health. You don’t love your kids enough. You’re being selfish. You just aren’t being a good enough mom. Honestly, I know my comments will prob be full of people telling me all sorts of things I could have/should have done to make it work for us. But the one huge thing I found this time is that I made a really hard decision within myself as a mom to listen to my gut about what was best for my child. And you know what…it worked. He is soooo happy and that is all that matters. I wanted to be real and thank you guys for checking in with me on how I have been doing this week. It’s been beautiful and painful at times. Thank you for all y’alls love and congratulations. It means SO much to me ? #cabbageleavesforthewin

A post shared by Carly Waddell (@carlywad) on

Not every mama would post a half-naked cabbage leaf pic, normalizing nursing struggles. We continue to stan Waddell for her realness and warmth — and we wish the growing family much happiness.

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