Cardi B defends post-partum fitness routine on X: ‘I’m doing this for me, not for your opinions’
Cardi B is never one to shy away from sharing personal moments with her fans, and her post-partum journey after welcoming her third child was no exception.
The rapper gave the world a glimpse into her life as a new mom again after she and her estranged husband Offset celebrated the arrival of their baby girl on September 7.
She took to TikTok on Sunday, September 15, to reveal her newborn in a heart-warming one-minute video titled “Babygirl”🌸🌸🌸🙏🏾, reported “Billboard”.
@iamcardib Babygirl 🌸 🌸 🌸
♬ original sound - Cardi B
The video opened with the gentle sound of a piano playing in the background and a shot of the hospital monitor announcing that the baby weighed 5 lbs. 9 oz.
The scene then shifted to Cardi B in her hospital room, where a nurse praised her for doing “so amazing,” adding, “I’m so proud of you. She’s so perfect,” as the newborn’s first cries filled the room.
It’s barely been a week. Yoh, the pressure women in the industry are under? Insane. https://t.co/apeV25UWh9
— Bassie 𐚁 (@BassieLastrassi) September 15, 2024
While fans were thrilled to get a peek at Cardi’s bundle of joy, the conversation quickly shifted to the rapper’s post-partum recovery after she posted another clip, this time from the gym.
Cardi shared a video on X (formerly Twitter), where she was seen working out with her trainer and the post sparked a heated debate online. Many fans expressed concern, questioning whether it was too soon for her to be back in the gym so soon after giving birth.
“It’s barely been a week. Yoh, the pressure women in the industry are under? Insane,” @BassieLastrassi tweeted, reflecting a common sentiment about the unrealistic expectations placed on women to “snap back” after childbirth.
Never one to back down, Cardi B responded with her usual candour.
“This is my third baby and post-partum is a little different from my first two … I’m not doing heavy lifting, no muscle straining, squatting, none of that … just cardio,” she explained.
The rapper also shared that staying active helps her manage her mental health. “Sometimes to avoid postpartum depression you gotta keep your mind busy and for me, that’s work and staying active,” she added.
Doctors recommend starting exercise as soon as you feel ready. You can begin high intensity exercises at 6 weeks. Do you really think women cant take walks for 6 weeks? pic.twitter.com/Q9xxExz7xZ
— bre🌱 (@ciapropaganda) September 16, 2024
However, Cardi B was quick to call out the double standards she felt were being applied to her.
“Y’all dragged me down when I gained 15 pounds because I was 5 months pregnant but now y’all fake concerned and wanna talk about pressure??? Y’all said I was pregnant to avoid working, now that you see I’m still at it, it’s something else??
“So yeah, I’m taking this personal but it’s FOR ME because either way y’all are gonna have something to say.”
Despite the criticism, Cardi emphasised that she was taking a gentle approach to working out.
“Don’t worry Bardigang, I’m only doing the stair master … Today I did only 30 minutes!! Tomorrow I’ll do that and treadmill, HOPEFULLY for a whole hour …
“No heavy lifting, squatting, or intense workouts. P***y still open, it needs to heal with no interruptions,” Cardi B wrote, adding a humorous but honest take on post-partum recovery.
The conversation around the gym session prompted further discussion about the pressures women face to bounce back after giving birth – a topic that resonated with many online.
@BassieLastrassi, whose original tweet sparked the debate, later clarified that she had no ill intentions.
“I genuinely didn’t mean any harm and the tweet was never an indictment on you but rather society’s expectations of women and ‘snap back’ culture,” she explained. “I hope you and baby are well. I’m a big fan.”
While some fans voiced concern, others understood Cardi B’s desire to stay active as part of her own unique recovery process.
As one fan put it: “Every woman’s post-partum journey is different, and we should respect that.”
Another wrote: “It’s unfair to cast judgement on mothers that have just given birth. Everyone has their own timeline on when and how they want to manage post birth activity and that’s okay because we women KNOW our bodies & what we can handle.
“You’re doing an amazing job, Cardi and I’m glad you aren’t letting anyone bring you down for how you want to take care of yourself ❤️
“Take your time. Go easy. Enjoy your family.”
In the end, Cardi B’s openness about her post-partum experience highlights the complicated emotions many new moms face – juggling their own mental and physical well-being while coping with the outside world’s expectations.
Finding balance after birth is personal, and every mom deserves the grace to figure it out in her own time.
For now, Cardi B is focusing on what matters most: healing, staying active on her terms, and, of course, enjoying life with her new baby girl.