When new mom Lexi Sinclair went to the pool Tuesday with her 4-month-old son, she never expected she'd have to defend her swimsuit choice and her own body.
In a Facebook post that has since gone viral, Sinclair wrote she was at her neighborhood pool when a woman started asking about her son. At first the pair talked about the baby's weight and sleeping habits, but that's when things took an unexpected turn.
“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.
Sinclair said she was stunned, but she couldn't keep quiet and decided to share her own thoughts on the matter.
"I'm proud of my body," Sinclair wrote in the post. "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."
Sinclair said she shared her experience on Facebook to help her friends who have had kids feel better about their own bodies. She never expected the post to go viral.
Since Tuesday, the original post has wracked up over 18,900 shares.
"The response I've gotten has been insane," Sinclair told 41 Action News. "I never thought it would go viral. Of course you get the negative feedback as well, but that's okay. If it's inspiring women and showing everyone how big of an issue body-shaming is, I'll take the negative."
Sinclair said she has one message for other mothers out there who have experienced a similar situation.
"It's your body," she said. "It's what you were given, so love it. You've done an amazing thing."
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