A mum has been praised for her honest Instagram post about how parenthood can take its toll, alongside a selfie of her post-baby body.
Mel Watts, who blogs at The Modern Mumma, reflected on how life has been with her daughter "nine months out the womb".
She stressed that life as a parent can be a daily challenge, but mums need to be kinder to themselves for their own wellbeing.
"In the last nine months I have never slept so little in my life," Watts wrote on Instagram.
"In the last nine months I have suffered my worst anxiety I have ever experienced.
"Having a new baby is exhausting and life just doesn't stop. The bills still need to be paid and the pressure you put on yourself is overwhelming."
Watts shared a photo of herself wearing just black underwear while she was holding her daughter.
"We expect ourselves to know what we're doing all the time," she wrote.
"It doesn't matter if it's your first or if it's your third you're still learning daily.
"The first nine months of your baby's life is filled with guessing, rocking, smiling and crying. The amount of pressure we put ourselves isn't fair."
Watts told mothers that they aren't "invincible", they're only human.
She wanted to raise awareness of the fact that it's okay to have days when you just don't feel you're good enough.
"You've got this," she wrote. "We've got this. Some women seem to have it all. Well so we think. Some women don't. I don't.
"I didn't have the motivation to even get dressed for the first nine months let alone get my pre-baby body back. And that's ok. If you do have the motivation good on you!
"Life challenges us daily. We are given new obstacles every single day. There's always tomorrow!"
Watts has been praised for her "uplifting" post.
"You are so great," one person commented.
"This has really cheered me up and inspired me. I'm a mother to an eight-month-old and six-year-old and not once have I taken them swimming because I have been too self conscious. That's really quite sad. Your posts are uplifting."
Another wrote: "So refreshing! Thank you for sharing. I have no doubt this has helped so many other fellow mummies to know they're not alone."
Men And Women Who Inspire Positive Body Image
James Corden(01 of17)
Open Image ModalHe stripped off in an underwear advert spoof alongside David Beckham. The message: "Beauty is skin deep, it's underneath that counts."He also wrote an open letter which was published by Glamour magazine in which he asks people to accept themselves for who they are. "Respect your body. It is what it is, so embrace it," he wrote. "Love every scar, ripple, and imperfection, and you won’t need others to do it for you." (credit:FOX via Getty Images)
David Beckham(02 of17)
Open Image ModalDavey B stars alongside James Corden in the underwear spoof for D&J briefs to promote healthy body image and the idea that beauty is only skin deep. (credit:J. Countess via Getty Images)
Serena Willliams (03 of17)
Open Image ModalLupita Nyong'o(04 of17)
Open Image ModalMatt McGorry(05 of17)
Open Image ModalThe Orange Is The New Black star spoke openly about his body concerns during his first shirtless scene on OITNB. He told Yahoo: "I was obsessively dieting, and when I saw that scene before the show ever came out, I thought I had blown it. I was like, 'Oh no! I didn't get as lean as I could've'. But then the show came out, and no one said anything negative about it, and it's funny because from one perspective you could say, 'Oh, he's letting himself go,' but from another perspective, I just don't need that validation I once did."I still love working out, and I think it's good for my health, and I feel good doing it. But I think with mental health, allowing myself to be who I am naturally in terms of my body, I think that's sort of practicing more self-love that way." (credit:Jennifer Lourie via Getty Images)
Prince Fielder(06 of17)
Open Image ModalFielder is a baseball player for the Texas Rangers who was featured on the front page of ESPN magazine, naked. The photograph of him was attacked on social media. The baseball player has since spoken out and said that just because a person is plus-size, it doesn't mean they can't be athletic.In an interview with ESPN.com, he said: “A lot of people probably think I’m not athletic or don’t even try to work out or whatever, but I do. Just because you’re big doesn’t mean you can’t be an athlete. And just because you work out doesn’t mean you’re going to have a 12-pack. I work out to make sure I can do my job to the best of my ability. Other than that, I’m not going up there trying to be a fitness model.” (credit:Ronald Martinez via Getty Images)
Tess Holliday (07 of17)
Open Image ModalGok Wan(08 of17)
Open Image ModalThe presenter is an advocate for body confidence in both men and women. He has been incredibly open about his struggles with obesity growing up. He presented a show called Gok's Teens: The Naked Truth, which looked at body image in young people. He also launched a campaign to get body image classes taught in schools across the country. (credit:Dave M. Benett via Getty Images)
Chrissy Teigen(09 of17)
Open Image ModalBen Cohen(10 of17)
Open Image ModalKate Winslet (11 of17)
Open Image ModalRobert Pattinson(12 of17)
Open Image ModalThe Twilight actor has been open about his struggles with Body Dysmorphia (BDD), an obsessive anxiety disorder which is characterised by the individual's preoccupation with flaws in his or her appearance which are unnoticeable to others.In the process, he's helped raise awareness of the disorder among men. (credit:Jason Kempin via Getty Images)
Demi Lovato (13 of17)
Open Image ModalAshley Graham (14 of17)
Open Image ModalAmy Schumer(15 of17)
Open Image ModalJameela Jamil (16 of17)
Open Image ModalAlexa Chung (17 of17)
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