Katrina Kaif had barely stepped back into the public eye after becoming a mother when her body became a topic of discussion. Instead of simply being seen as a new mother returning to work and public life, her appearance was dissected online, with comments focusing on her weight and how different she looked from her pre-pregnancy self. The trolling prompted several Bollywood celebrities to defend her, pushing back against the idea that a woman should be expected to quickly return to her old body after childbirth.
He says women should not feel guilty about seeking professional help when emotional distress persists or begins affecting daily life. The idea that a woman should quickly become her “old self” after childbirth also misses something fundamental: pregnancy changes the body, and motherhood does not come with a requirement to erase those changes. For millions of new mothers, the expectation to look “normal” again can turn recovery into another performance. And as the reaction to Katrina Kaif shows, perhaps the question should not be “Why doesn’t she look like she did before?” but “Why did we decide she had to?
The pressure becomes particularly visible when celebrities become new mothers. Their photographs are scrutinised almost immediately, creating an unrealistic comparison between a woman’s postpartum body and her appearance before pregnancy. Recovery is not just about weight The postpartum period also brings sleep deprivation, fatigue, hormonal fluctuations and the emotional demands of caring for a newborn. Focusing entirely on weight can overshadow the more important aspects of recovery. Dr. Gupta recommends adequate sleep, nutritious food, hydration and support from family and friends. Gentle exercise can also help when medically appropriate. There is also a quieter myth that asking for help means a new mother is struggling to cope. In reality, adjusting to motherhood can require physical and emotional support, particularly when sleep and routine have changed dramatically. Katrina Kaif’s experience has once again brought that pressure into the spotlight. The celebrity reactions may have challenged the comments directed at her, but the larger issue extends far beyond Bollywood. There is no single shape a healthy postpartum body is supposed to have. And there is certainly no deadline by which a woman must earn the right to feel comfortable in it. A new mother’s body is not a before-and-after photograph. It is a body recovering from pregnancy, childbirth and months of physical change. Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day. Get the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.
28 Jul 2026 | 16:26 One of the most persistent myths new mothers face is that pregnancy weight should disappear within a few weeks.
“Postpartum recovery does not follow a strict schedule,” says Dr. The myth of the “post-pregnancy body” A softer abdomen, stretch marks or changes in breast shape are often treated as evidence that a woman has “not bounced back”. “A new mother often comes face to face with excessive pressure to get back her pre-pregnancy shape,” Dr. Gupta says. He points to the widespread belief that women should lose pregnancy weight within weeks and says there are no common standards for an ideal post-pregnancy body.
But the more revealing part of the episode is not Katrina Kaif’s weight. It is how quickly society turns a completely normal part of postpartum recovery into something women are expected to explain, hide or correct. Mannan Gupta, Chairman and HOD, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Elantis Healthcare, New Delhi. Physical and hormonal changes continue after childbirth, and recovery can take several months or longer, he explains. The changes are not limited to weight. After delivery, the uterus gradually contracts, the body sheds excess fluid and hormones undergo major shifts. Breastfeeding, sleep, diet, physical activity, pre-pregnancy weight, pregnancy weight gain and even the type of birth can influence how a woman feels and looks in the months that follow. That makes another common expectation misleading: that every woman should recover in exactly the same way. Medically, however, these changes can be a normal part of pregnancy and childbirth.