Ashley Petta, known for her appearance on "Married at First Sight," and her husband, Anthony D'Amico, welcomed their second child, a baby girl, in February. The couple, who fell in love on Lifetime's Married at First Sight in 2016, told E! News that Ashley gave birth to the pair's second baby, a girl, on Feb. 3. Ashley shared with us, "This pregnancy was not easy on me and the birth was even harder but meeting the new addition to our family made it all worth it! It was definitely love at first sight. This article explores Ashley's journey through pregnancy and postpartum, highlighting her candid approach to body image and self-confidence, alongside similar experiences shared by other celebrity mothers.
Documenting the Pregnancy Journey
Ashley documented her pregnancy journey on social media. On Jan. 4, one month before her due date, she shared a photo of herself standing in Vaeda's soon-to-be nursery to Instagram, along with a message about self-confidence during this special time. She wrote, "I'm definitely not the pregnant girl with the cute little basket ball [sic] in front that only gains weight in her belly… in fact I could barely pull these jeans up over my butt! Ashley’s honest portrayal of her changing body resonated with many, offering a refreshing contrast to the often idealized images of pregnancy. "We are ready for you baby girl!" Ashley wrote. "This is the final nursery post I promise! I'm just so happy with how it turned out! Mila loves it too!
Celebrity Moms and Postpartum Body Image
Ashley isn't alone in sharing her postpartum experiences. Several other celebrity moms have also taken to social media to offer candid glimpses into their journeys.
“So amazing what we [mothers] can do,” Bachelor Nation’s Bekah Martinez captioned an Instagram Story mirror selfie in February 2019 after welcoming her first baby. “I’ve never felt so much respect and love for my body, diaper and all. Heather Rae El Moussa, for her part, documented “1 week postpartum” via her Instagram Story in February 2023. The two reality stars aren’t the only celeb moms who have shared candid shots of their bodies after baby.
- Margot Robbie: The Barbie actress showed off her postpartum body one month after giving birth to baby No. 1 in October 2024. Robbie rocked a black crop top with matching biker shorts.
- Lindsay Lohan: Lohan made a Mean Girls reference in August 2023 while debuting her postpartum body - one month after the birth of her son, Luai.
- Heather Rae El Moussa: “1 week postpartum,” the Selling Sunset star captioned a February 2023 Instagram Story selfie.
- Ashley Iaconetti: The Bachelor in Paradise alum told her Instagram followers in April 2022 that her postpartum recovery was “ROUGH" after son Wilder's birth, adding, “I wasn’t expecting it to be as bad as it was.
- Bonnie Wright: The Harry Potter star wore a pink tank and black leggings in an April 2022 Instagram Story photo, one week after giving birth to baby No.
- Adrienne Bailon: “While being a new mom is the most exhilarating moment I have ever experienced in my life - nothing prepared me for postpartum. NOTHING,” the Real cohost wrote via Instagram in January 2022.
- Audrey Roloff: “This is me 11 days [postpartum],” Jacob Roloff’s wife told her Instagram followers in December 2021. “I am in love with my soft, wrinkly belly. I have no desire to ‘bounce back.’ My body will never be the same. It was my baby’s first home. It shows that I did one of the hardest, most rewarding jobs.
- Tori Roloff: "I’m amazed how this body grew with me the last 40 weeks,” the Bachelor in Paradise alum captioned her November 2021 Instagram Story. One hour after giving birth to son Radley in November 2021, the Little People, Big World alum snapped a mirror selfie.
- Laura Perlongo: Nev Schulman’s wife posted an “obligatory postpartum thirst trap” in October 2021, three weeks after giving birth. Perlongo wrote via Instagram: "To be fair, this is just a flattering angle. I have all the things including but not limited to the classics. Loose skin belly, impossibly sore nipples, unidentified groin pain, weird sores from those huge pads and clumps of hair turning my shower into a flood hazard. BUT WHATEVER. The upside of it all is, ya know, a continued obsession with what bodies can do (THE MIRACLE OF LIFE!) and the ability to sometimes even feel kinda hot and powerful in a weird, sweaty fourth trimester kinda way. Is that allowed or do I have to post my worst angle?
- Jamie Otis: “Postpartum hair brush and outfit change,” the Married at First Sight alum captioned an Instagram Story selfie in October 2021 after her baby boy’s birth.
- Halsey: "I do not want to feed the illusion that you’re meant to feel and look ‘great' immediately postpartum," the singer wrote via Instagram in October 2021 after performing on Saturday Night Live in a skintight jumpsuit. "That is not my narrative currently. If you’ve been following me because you’re also a parent and you dig what I’m doing, please know I’m in your corner. I will never have my 'pre baby body back' no matter how it changes physically because I have now had a baby! … That change is permanent. And I don’t want to go back!
- Cardi B: “People been giving me amazing compliments on my body,” the rapper told her Instagram followers in September 2021, three weeks after giving birth. “I think it’s because right now I’ve got some amazing hips due to my gorgeous son because he was sitting so low. Everybody’s, like, ‘Cardi, you so snatch! What did you do? You did lipo, you had a tummy tuck?’ You cannot do surgery after you give birth. … I like to be real with you guys. My skin is still loose and I still got a little pouchy pouch right here. If I showed you all my back fat! And my face is still so fat and my neck.
- Hannah Lee Fowler: Grant Gustin’s wife wore jeans for the first time in “over 10 months” in September 2021, two weeks after giving birth.
- Crystal Renay Smith: “Snapback loading,” Ne-Yo’s wife, who gave birth to daughter Isabella in June 2021, captioned a July 2021 Instagram video of her bare stomach.
- Lala Kent: “Seven days postpartum. The Vanderpump Rules star made her post-baby red carpet debut in June 2021, one month after giving birth to daughter Summer.
- Liv Lo: "Gals, so many of you DM’d me about how to get a flat tummy postpartum,” the former model, who is Henry Golding’s wife, captioned a June 2021 Instagram selfie. "As a fitness instructor, I want to tell you that a flat tummy is NOT the goal. You, woman, are enough. I have been culling my closet because my size has gone up, and that’s OK. I Love my amazing body with all its curves, wrinkles and marks because it does EVERYTHING for me.
- Viola Davis: "No, this is not a pregnancy Before picture. This is the After,” the How to Get Away With Murder alum captioned a June 2021 Instagram slideshow. "After days of labor. After experiencing what felt like my insides being ripped apart, no lie. After experiencing the unimaginable beauty of childbirth, this is what is left behind. This Gorgeous Body! So in celebration of myself and my body for ‘Doing the Damn Thing,’ I wanted to share this photo. No makeup, no editing, no filters (and you know I love a filter!) Just Me.
- Kristin Cavallari: "This was the day after the hospital,” Mark Cuevas’ fiancée wrote via Instagram in June 2021, one month after giving birth to their son.
- Scheana Shay: In May 2021, the Vanderpump Rules alum was “feeling good” at five weeks postpartum, telling her Instagram followers: "Got a long ways to go.
- Katherine Webb: A.J. McCarron’s wife wrote via Instagram in May 2021 that she had “25 pounds” left to lose, adding, “Not trying to rush anything but I am not trying to spend money on a whole new wardrobe.
- Astrid Loch: The Bachelor in Paradise alum showed her Instagram followers her bare stomach in April 2021, 22 hours after giving birth. "I was able to walk 1.5 hours after she was born,” Nielson wrote at the time. "Peed no problem. Barely tore and minimal swelling.
- Brittany Cartwright: "This bod hits different,” the Vanderpump Rules star captioned a March 2021 mirror selfie.
- Val Chmerkovskiy: While celebrating her first week with her and Wilmer Valderrama's daughter, Nakano, in February 2021, the model wrote via Instagram: "Right about this timeish last week, my water broke.
- Danielle Ruhl: “This is five weeks postpartum,” the Married at First Sight alum captioned a March 2021 Instagram post. "I started working out again this week. … I don’t feel strong, but I know I will get there. Our bodies are truly amazing.
- Brittany Matthews: Patrick Mahomes' fiancée worked out with her 2-week-old daughter, Sterling, on her chest in a March 2021 Instagram video. “The most amazing journey, to bring the biggest blessing into our life,” Matthews captioned the footage.
- Ashley Iaconetti: "Last week in versus first week out,” the Bachelor Winter Games alum captioned February 2021 Instagram selfies. "I’ve always been fascinated by the human body but didn’t know its full depth and capability until now. Also didn’t know I was going to post these when I was taking them lol, but this is as real as it gets.
- Peta Murgatroyd: "Finally wearing real clothes but still in a diaper,” the Dancing With the Stars pro captioned a January 2021 mirror selfie with her son, Leo, nearly two weeks after giving birth. "Healing from birth is no joke.
- Rachel Reilly: "Why I love my #postpartum body! It's real!!! It's not perfect - it's strong [and] it's healing - it gave me a new life," the Big Brother alum wrote alongside a bathing suit pic on Instagram in November 2020, nearly two weeks after welcoming her second child with husband Brendon Villegas. "I appreciate that I can spend time with my family at the beach … also love that I can get out and walk the beach and enjoy fresh air!!!
- Paul Nassif: "Two weeks post-pregnancy!” Dr. Paul Nassif’s wife captioned an October 2020 mirror selfie via Instagram.
- Lauren Bushnell Lane: "After carrying a baby for 10 months and bringing her into the world, and now feeding her and watching my body recover, I am moved by the power of my female body," the Bachelor alum captioned a September 2020 Instagram photo.
- Mina Starsiak Hawk: The Good Bones alum shared a mirror selfie via Instagram six days after welcoming her daughter, Charlotte, in September 2020, writing, “You have to wear a diaper after giving birth [because] things just come out.
- Jade Roper Tolbert: "On the way to the hospital and about to make my way home,” the “Mom Brain” podcast cohost captioned September 2020 photos taken just before and after her fifth child’s birth. "Thank you body for all that you have done and all that you continue to do.
- Nikki Bella: Nearly one month after her son Matteo’s July 2020 arrival, Nikki wrote via Instagram: “I am so incredibly happy to finally be a Mama! Hailey Baldwin called her sister a “warrior” after she showed her postpartum body in August 2020.
- Ciara: "This is postpartum. The “Level Up” singer posed in a white bathing suit in August 2020, one month after her son Win’s birth.
- Raven Gates: "I wanted to make sure that you all could see that my postpartum belly is still here," the Bachelor in Paradise alum captioned a June 2020 Instagram selfie nearly one month after welcoming her daughter, Presley. "We [new moms] try our best, and that is enough.
- Shay Mitchell: “Posted these side by side because this is my current reality,” the model captioned a throwback pregnancy picture and a new shot of herself and her daughter in May 2020.
- Paola Mayfield: The 90 Day Fiancé star snapped a selfie two weeks after giving birth to her son in April 2020, writing, “I’m beyond exhausted. I haven’t brushed my hair in two weeks (I’m lucky if I can shower for five minutes a day). I haven’t worn makeup in who knows how long. I’ve been pooped and peed on regularly. I’m nursing every two hours, like clock work.
- Busy Philipps: "That post-shower postpartum feeling,” the Undateable alum wrote on her March 2020 Instagram Story five days after giving birth to her second son. “Mamas, ya feel me?
- Stassi Schroeder: "It is embracing and loving this body of mine,” the Bravo personality wrote of her postpartum reality in a February 2020 Instagram selfie, three days after giving birth to her daughter Dove.
These posts reflect a growing trend of celebrating the changes that occur during and after pregnancy, challenging unrealistic expectations and promoting self-acceptance. These posts reflect a growing trend of celebrating the changes that occur during and after pregnancy, challenging unrealistic expectations and promoting self-acceptance.
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The Pressure to "Bounce Back"
The pressure on new mothers to "bounce back" to their pre-pregnancy bodies is immense. Social media often showcases unrealistic transformations, contributing to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety among new moms. Ashley Petta and other celebrities who share their authentic experiences are helping to counter this narrative, emphasizing that postpartum recovery is a unique and personal journey.
Embracing the "Fourth Trimester"
The concept of the "fourth trimester" recognizes the significant physical and emotional adjustments that occur in the months following childbirth. During this time, a woman's body is still recovering, hormones are fluctuating, and new routines are being established. It's a period that requires patience, self-care, and support.
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