African waist beads may look like a simple accessory, but they can have a transformational effect on the wearer. Adorning a waist bead around one’s waist can feel sensual and grounding. Beads wrapped around one’s midsection serve as a constant reminder to be more aware and loving toward one’s body.

Today, waist beads continue to change women’s relationships with their bodies. Before the beads, many testify resentful feelings about their bodies whenever they change in size, shape or color. The experience of pregnancy and birth is life-changing, but what’s surprising is the amount of criticism—specifically body shaming—focused on moms post-baby. “We…live in a world that seems to love babies yet thinks that we should erase any evidence of how they came to be,” wrote Ellen Friedrichs in a post for Everyday Feminism.