“I’ve earned my stripes”: touching photo of new mum’s stretch marks goes viral

The pressure on new mums to snap back to their pre-baby bodies after childbirth can be colossal.

That might be why Abigail Wedlake's Instagram post of her stretch marks has been so popular. The mum proudly shared this photo of her four month-old daughter Aubrey alongside her postpartum body.

A post shared by Abagail wedlake (@_abagailwedlake_) on Apr 23, 2017 at 8:14am PDT

In the accompanying caption, she wrote: "A mark for every breath you took, every blink, every sleepy yawn. One for every time you sucked your thumb and slept in perfect darkness. One for every dream you dreamt. It was your home and where I grew to love you. I've earned my stripes and am embracing them more and more everyday. ? postpartum bodies are different but show the beauty of being given the chance to bring life into this world." The post got over 15,000 likes on the social site and Abigail was praised in the comments.

"Beautiful and brave" "Amazing fierce tiger stripes for your cub!!" "Loved your statement. So true"

Speaking to the Huffington Post, Abigail said; "I wanted other mothers to see that they are not alone ― that the loose skin and stretch marks are nothing to be ashamed of." "That morning before I posted that picture, staring at the mirror holding my daughter, I realized that these are earned. I carried her for nine months and earned these stretch marks and the cesarean scar below them."