I don’t need to banish my mum tum! Anger as diet firm targets new mother
A NEW mother says she was left disgusted after being contacted by a sales rep who offered to help her get rid of her ‘yucky mum tum’.
Selina Warren, 19, said she received the message on Facebook from a woman claiming to be from Juice Plus, which sells dietary supplements. The saleswoman congratulated Miss Warren on the arrival of her son Logan, before suggesting the first-time mother might want to get her ‘beautiful’ pre-baby body back.
Despite being back to a size 8 one month after giving birth, Miss Warren admits her body has been changed forever after carrying a baby for nine months but says she has no reason to feel ashamed of it.
The former marketer said she is worried about the message’s effect on mothers struggling with their body image or post-natal depression. Miss Warren, from Willington, Co Durham, said: ‘I found it quite insulting that someone, especially another woman, would jump to the conclusion that because I’ve had a baby I must hate my body.
‘It is so rude. I’ve just carried a baby for nine months so, yes, I have stretch marks and a pouch on my tummy but I am so proud of my body for growing my son.
‘For this woman who doesn’t know me and hasn’t seen my body to think it’s OK to message a new mum telling her that her body is “yucky” is unbelievable.
‘ I was absolutely appalled. I found the message so offensive but I’m lucky I’m quite thickskinned and I am pretty confident but that’s not true for everyone.’
After receiving the message last week, Miss Warren, who lives with fiance Billy Kenny, 21, claims the sender promptly blocked her and deleted the account.
Juice Plus, which operates in 18 countries, said it could not find any staff member under the sales rep’s name. However a spokesman apologised to Miss Warren and the company is investigating.