One of the most common emotions I hear new moms talk about is guilt, specifically what we’ve come to know as “mom guilt.” It usually shows up when moms are doing something for themselves: spending time with friends, taking a solo trip, or even just resting.

But I have to be honest—I don’t think guilt is the right word for what we’re feeling.

Our bodies change in so many ways throughout pregnancy and in the postpartum period. They grow bigger and softer, they stretch and ache. Your body almost doesn’t feel like your own.