When Lexi Sinclair went to her local pool with her newborn this week, she expected to enjoy a warm summer day. What she didn’t expect was having to defend her body to another woman who said it wasn’t appropriate to wear a bikini while “still recovering.”
Sinclair was with her 4-month-old son, Christian, at a community pool in Kansas City, Missouri when she said another woman approached her and started talking about her son.
The conversation started off with the two talking about the baby’s age, weight and sleeping habits, but Sinclair said quickly turned into something completely different.
“She then proceeded to tell me that the men at the pool would feel more comfortable if I was in a one-piece swim suit because a bikini isn't appropriate for a mother, especially one who's "still recovering,” Sinclair wrote in a now-viral Facebook post.
Sinclair said she couldn’t just stay silent and instead took the moment to educate the woman about why she shouldn’t have to cover up her stomach.
“I just smiled, kissed my son and told her, ‘I'm proud of my body,’” Sinclair wrote. “In just one year I've gained 50 pounds, and lost 37. I've grown a human and given birth to a beautiful miracle. My body provided food for my child. So, no, my body might not be the best sight for other men to see. My stretch marks and tummy pudge might not be sexy. But they're proof that I've done something amazing, and I have a man that loves me and finds me even sexier and more beautiful now.”
The post has since been shared more than 12,000 times on Facebook.
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Sinclair told NBC Chicago she shared the post because she knows a lot of mothers that are struggling with their body images.
“I thought sharing my story with them would give them hope,” she said. “I never expected it to go viral.”
The post has received a lot of feedback from other mothers praising Sinclair’s words.
