Peta Murgatroyd is embracing her post-baby body.
Murgatroyd, 30, and her fiancé Maksim Chmerkovskiy, 36, welcomed Shai Aleksander, their first child, on Jan. 4 in New York City.
And when it was time to leave the hospital on Thursday, the Dancing with the Stars dance pro’s body didn’t exactly “shrink right back,” as she described in a candid Instagram posted on Sunday.
“Real life: I took this photo 8 days post birth,” she wrote. “I left the hospital looking 5 months pregnant. Many people think a woman should shrink right back to her pre-birth weight immediately. That is just not the truth for most.”
She continued: “The female body is incredible and resilient, but healing and strengthening take time. Now it’s time for patience and hard work. Lots of love to all the new mamas out there on the journey. #yesihaveascrunchieinmyhair #shaiiswortheverypound.”
And while the new mom is sharing her body transformation, the couple has decided to wait to show pictures of their baby boy.
“We can’t wait to share him with you, but for the first most crucial weeks of his life we’re just keeping him for ourselves and soaking up these moments,” Murgatroyd wrote on Instagram. “Thank you for your patience and all of your love.”
Chmerkovskiy echoed the sentiments on Instagram, writing, “I don’t let too many people come see my son and I don’t want to put any of him on social media just yet. @petamurgatroyd and I just want to enjoy our little family, together with our loved ones, and take in all the precious moments which we’ll never get back.”
The DWTS couple have been dating on and off since 2012 and announced their engagement in December 2015.
This article originally appeared on People.com
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Contact us at letters@time.com