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19 baby photos that will shatter your expectations of what it's like to be a parent
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Ever take a photo of your baby, or a post-baby photo of yourself? It's probably harder than it sounds, especially for these parents. - photo by Herb Scribner
In the days and weeks after giving birth, some new mothers immediately try to slim down on their body weight. Theyve seen Beyonce do it and Kate Hudson do it, instilling this idea that slimming down after giving birth is an easily achievable and necessary goal.

But the reality of post-pregnancy and losing weight doesn't always meet expectations. A 2014 study found that most women weigh more a year after giving birth, NY Daily News reported.

The study, which followed 774 women who had an average body mass index before giving birth, found that about 75 percent of women weighed more the year after giving birth than they did before getting pregnant, with many women even becoming obese.

"This unfortunately showed that pregnancy itself is leading to obesity or (being) overweight for a substantial number of women," Dr. Loraine Endres, an assistant professor at the University of Chicago, said, NY Daily News reported. The more you gain, the harder it is to ever lose that weight. From the moment women conceive, as health care providers we need to start talking with them about appropriate weight gain and remaining active."

But another celebrity says this debate shouldnt matter. Haylie Duff, sister of actress and singer Hillary Duff, recently spoke out against this concept, saying that its important for new parents to understand that achieving the expectations set out by celebrities or dieting experts doesnt always meet the reality of being a new mother and thats OK.

Theres this very intense pressure to look like you didnt have a baby two days after you had a baby," Duff told Fox News. "First of all, I didnt get offered that deal with the devil. I didnt get to look like I didnt have a baby two days later, so that just wasnt an option for me. Its great for people who can look like that, but its so unrealistic for the majority of women in this country, and it also has the tendency to make you feel bad about yourself.

Thats why Duff has created a new food blog, called The Real Girl's Kitchen. Along with eventually becoming a Cooking Channel TV show of the same name, it helps real Americans learn ways to keep a healthy relationship with food.

Managing expectations is something that parents will have to deal with in more ways than just their weight, though. It also comes in to play when considering how theyll be as a parent, or how theyll carry out certain tasks with their children.

Many parents strive to have a perfect baby photo, for example, but that often doesnt meet the reality mostly because children can sometimes be messy and disrupt what would be a perfect photo.

Life with kids is rewarding, challenging, and a bit messy. Sometimes a massive cleanup effort or serious bath is required, BabyCenter reported.

To get a better look at the differences between a parent's expectations and the reality, check out the photos below.

https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt41ukeciinl7.ddfdaa83.jpg

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https://i.onthe.io/vllkytm5j5sgtrins.f68673e8.jpg

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https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt65hkn739ctq.c2b4b88f.jpg

https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt556rlndiejb.4552a181.jpg

https://i.onthe.io/vllkyt4961f3iu6ds.7d28a6f6.jpg

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https://i.onthe.io/vllkytbiru2qr2ela.1366da95.jpg

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http://expectationvsreality.net/sites/default/files/merged_images/ever_merged_nid_5442.jpg

http://expectationvsreality.net/sites/default/files/user_uploaded/crying%20as%20a%20baby.jpg

http://expectationvsreality.net/sites/default/files/user_uploaded/sleeping-next-to-a-baby-expectation-reality.jpg