Stassi Schroeder feels pressure to ‘bounce back’ after giving birth just 7 WEEKS ago

Stassi Schroeder joyously welcomed her first child, daughter Hartford, with husband Beau Clark in January.

And seven weeks after giving birth, the Vanderpump Rules alum, 32, is speaking candidly about her postpartum body struggles and the pressure women often feel to ‘bounce back.’

‘1st postpartum OOTD- I don’t know who needs to hear this but it’s been 7 weeks since I gave birth and my maternity jeans are still the only ones that fit me,’ began Schroeder, who posed for a self-portrait in front of a full length mirror for Instagram.

The reality star looked effortlessly gorgeous in a black oversized button down, which she styled with dark denim maternity skinny jeans and a pair of stylish Chanel slingback heels. 

Stassi’s signature blonde hair was parted down the middle and styled in soft waves that framed her face for the Instagram snap. 

She continued: ‘I’m also wearing spanx to hold in what looks like a 4 month pregnant belly. I thought it would be way easier to bounce back, and everyday I wake up like a kid on Christmas morning hoping that when I look in the mirror, I’m going to see my pre-pregnant body once again and that obvs never happens.’ 

Schroeder marveled at ‘how f***ed up is it that [she is] so obsessed with bouncing back when [her] body has just made, housed and delivered a baby.’

She revealed that, since giving birth to her daughter, her ‘body issues consume [her] thoughts about 97% of the day, and it is a major hole [she] struggle to dig [herself] out of.’

‘We’re told we have to eat enough calories to breastfeed but don’t overdo it because then we won’t get our bodies back. 

‘All the while I’m trying to stay mentally and emotionally healthy for my baby, my husband and myself,’ Stassi lamented. 

Despite receiving tons of messages from her 2.3million followers urging her to give herself ‘grace,’ the positive reenforcement has not been enough to stop her intrusive thoughts. 

‘I’ve read some kind dm’s from people telling me to give myself grace but I’m not gonna lie, I truly don’t know how to give myself grace and that’s a depressing fact.

‘I also feel like an a**hole for complaining about my body when I was given the most perfect baby,’ she wrote.

‘Totally wish I wasn’t so vain, but unfortunately I am. All I can say is thank the lord shirt jackets are in.’

To close out her candid post, Stassi stressed that she hoped her words ‘helped at least one other postpartum mama feel a little less alone today,’ before jokingly adding: ‘On a positive note, my Chanel sling backs fit.’

Stassi and Beau officially welcomed baby Hartford on January 8, but did not reveal their child’s arrival on social media until January 21.

‘Beau & I have spent the last couple of weeks enjoying every moment with our daughter. Every cuddle, every sound, every poop, all of it,’ captioned the star, who included a peaceful snapshot of the newborn.

‘It’s her two week birthday and I feel like I’m finally ready to share my little girl. Meet Hartford Charlie Rose Clark, the best thing that’s ever happened to me. My heart is so freaking full. I can’t believe I get to keep her.’ 

Stassi had a grandmother called Rosemary who died in 2019 and Beau’s father is named Charlie, hence the baby’s middle names.

The couple got married in September in a small casual outdoor ceremony after their big wedding plans had to be put on hold due to the pandemic.

‘We went and did it anyway. ❤️ Married sept 2020. Hopefully Italian dream wedding oct 2021,’ Stassi revealed in an October post to Instagram.

They got engaged in July 2019, and the proposal aired on the last season of Vanderpump Rules before Stassi was fired for past racially insensitive actions.