Desiree Hartsock Siegfried is giving her followers an honest look at her body after baby.
Four days after the former Bachelorette and husband Chris Siegfried welcomed their second child, son Zander Cruz, Desiree took to Instagram with a mirror selfie in an effort to show off what she described as “looking like I’m still pregnant but feeling like a supermodel/warrior.”
“I’m not typically one to document or especially share body image pics but the more and more postpartum pics I see from you all the more empowering I feel the message can be to new moms — or anyone for that matter!” wrote the second-time new mom on Wednesday.
Desiree — who posed in only a patterned bra and gray underwear for the snapshot — went on to explain how she believes pregnancy and childbirth are “an absolute miracle” and that she’s “fascinated by the sheer wisdom and nature of it all.”
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Desiree, 32, called the “fourth trimester” that she’s currently experiencing “no joke,” imploring everyone to “[recognize] that a woman’s pregnancy journey doesn’t end when the baby arrives.”
“There’s so much healing and recovery that needs to take place physically and mentally when lack of sleep and roller coaster hormones are at work,” she continued. “Not to mention the post cramping the uterus does to contract back. ? It’s like labor all over again.”
“As a society we need to embrace the beauty of the body during this time and not expect a new mom to just ‘bounce’ back like her body didn’t just go through battle,” Desiree went on. “It’s feeling beautiful and courageous in our own skin no matter the stretch marks, extra weight and whatever else is going on. Grace upon grace upon grace … for ourselves and each other.”
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PEOPLE confirmed on Sunday that Desiree and Chris, 33, had welcomed their newest family member, who joins 2-year-old big brother Asher Wrigley.
Their baby boy arrived on Saturday at 8:30 a.m., weighing 8 lbs., 2 oz.
“He is every bit as sweet and snuggly as he looks,” Desiree captioned her first shared photo of baby Zander, bundled up and sound asleep. “Can’t wait to share more but for now baby and I are getting much needed rest as we spend time with family and are both doing great!”
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