Emily Skye: Fitness blogger gets real about how pregnancy changed her body

'I’m so proud of what my body has done'

(Instagram: @emilyskyefit

A fitness blogger has opened up about the pressure on women to regain their pre-baby bodies post-partum.

Emily Skye, a famous Australian fitness personality, recently gave birth to her first child – a little girl called Mia Elise Redmond.

But, despite saying she would commit to a strict training regime once the nine months were over, Skye admits her priorities have changed.

Now, the new mum has shared an honest snap on Instagram to highlight the reality of motherhood and why she refuses to “bounce back.”

Posing in a series of photos taken before, during, and after her pregnancy, Skye wants to challenge the expectation that women should instantly lose weight after giving birth.

“I loved my body before I got pregnant but I love it even more now,” she writes.

“I’m so proud of what my body has done and continues to do for my precious daughter.

“Being a mother isn’t easy in many ways which I’m now starting to experience and the last thing I’m going to do is pressure myself to 'bounce back' quickly or beat myself up because my body hasn’t returned to my pre-baby condition.”

Instead, she tackles the “unrealistic” expectations placed on women to get fit after giving birth and says she wants to celebrate her post-partum body, and all it has achieved.

“I choose to celebrate my body and how incredible it is in any condition, shape (or size) and I choose to focus on being my best mentally and physically for my daughter Mia - and my priority definitely isn’t looking a certain way.”

That being said, Skye does admit that she wants to get fit and healthy again but that doing so will take time, consistency and patience.

“It’s important for me to be realistic about my goals.”

Since posting the message to her 2.3 million followers, many have responded to praise her for being so honest.

“Thanks so much for keeping it real! It takes a real woman to show what a woman’s body goes through with pregnancy,” one person wrote.

Another added, “Thank you for being so raw and open with all your body changes, and your health - both mentally and physically.

“It’s so refreshing and comforting...the realistic normal.”