'It's no castle or bloody piece of art' Mum blogger shares raw post-baby body picture four days after C-section

A mum's post-baby body picture has gone viral after she captured her stomach just four days after undergoing a C-section.

Mel Watts, who blogs under the name The Modern Mumma, took to Instagram to share the candid image, posting a split pic of herself at 30 weeks pregnant to compare it to the more recent photograph.

Saying that she believed that her body was 'no castle or bloody piece of art', Mel explained that she'd previously been critical of her own figure, but had learned to embrace it after it brought her children into the world, including newborn Sonny.

'Sure it's filled with stretch marks and dimples,' she wrote in the caption. 'But this body, this one the one I own gave me another life. Another small human to love and to hold.

'It held onto him for 9 months and sheltered him, protected him and prepared him for the day he was born. So many times I've doubted my body, so many times I've pinched and pulled at sections that I didn't like. In reality this body has done everything I'd ever want it to do.

'Sure it's not magazine or swimsuit worthy to some. But to me and my husband, it's the place that grew our babies. It's the place that everything we love most started. And that's all that counts right?!'

Mel concluded that she felt the need to challenge the 'stigma' around women's bodies after they've given birth: 'No body has the same body. And every body has their own body. Enjoy it,' she encouraged her 147,000 followers.

The response to the post was overwhelmingly positive, with many dubbing it 'refreshing', 'beautiful' and 'inspiring'.

However, as the comments and shares continued to spiral, some became less complimentary - something which Mel addressed in a subsequent message.

'Some referring to it as a real post baby body, some referring to it as revolting. Which is totally okay,' she said.

'However, I think you should be aware that I didn't use the word "real" in any of my post. I think all women's bodies are real. Some work hard for theirs and some *cough cough* don't 🙋🏻

'We're all real. We're all women who have birthed little humans and we're all just trying to do the best we can. Just like the other millions of women in the world.'