Empowering Photo Session Embracing the Elegance of a Black Mother and Her Beautiful Stretch Marks
Christina Temitope, a native of New Jersey, delivered a powerful message to fellow mothers about embracing body changes during pregnancy.
Christina Temitope Abiola was already 38 weeks pregnant with her first child, but she wasn’t feeling entirely happy. During her pregnancy, she developed numerous deep stretch marks on her belly, which greatly discouraged her from capturing the moment. To help other mothers facing the same issue, she shared her story on social media.
“Insecurity is a dangerous thing. I think it holds us back from fulfilling our full potential. When it came to taking my maternity photos, I was very scared. So scared that I delayed it until 38 weeks pregnant! But time was really running out, and I wanted to preserve my memories,” she wrote on Instagram.
Initially, Christina planned to have the marks removed using Photoshop for the photo shoot, but upon reflecting on the situation, she changed her mind.
“However, the edited version looked unnatural. So, I said no worries, let’s do it! I’ve been struggling to embrace my marks because I felt like I was the only one who had experienced such an extreme amount. My entire belly was covered, and I felt like I was doing something wrong. I was more worried about whether they’d even go away after having her and how long it would take. But through the love and support of friends and family, I feel very secure! I like to call my marks beauty marks because they represent the beautiful life I brought into the world! I honestly would do it all over again for her,” she added.
Not surprisingly, the photo shoot turned out to be impressive. The pictures even went viral just before Abiola and her partner, Lamar Grant, introduced their baby, Aniyah, to the world!
Aniyah Oluwanifemi Grant, Christina’s first child with her husband Lamar Grant, was born on October 24.
“Today we reveal our girl’s name! Welcome Aniyah Oluwanifemi Grant to the family! Our emotions are indescribable. I am blessed to have a daughter with the man of my dreams! A man who loves me unconditionally, adores me, cares about me, and puts our relationship first,” she said.
Learning to love your body before and after childbirth is not always easy, but “we have to change, we stop adapting to the new circumstances, that’s how God arranged it. Being a mom was already chosen for me by God, and He decided that now is my time! I see this new journey that I am embarking on as a gift from God! A new purpose was found along with all the others that I embody. I am a powerhouse, and being a mother will not only change my life forever, but it will improve it and fill it with wonders that I could never imagine!” Christina said.
These photos convey a message to moms everywhere, especially those struggling to love their postpartum bodies. The images have gone viral, with women leaving hundreds of loving and supportive comments.
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