Ashanti Shares Message on Her Postpartum Body After Welcoming Baby With Nelly

Ashanti can rock with her postpartum body. 

One month after welcoming her first baby with husband Nelly, the "Foolish" singer got candid about how she's feeling after giving birth. 

"This is what postpartum looks like," Ashanti wrote in an Aug. 21 Instagram post announcing the arrival of her little one. "I’m so proud of my body for giving me my baby, baby, baby, baby, baby."

Alongside the caption, the 43-year-old shared a video of herself in a set of Frida Mom’s postpartum underwear and a floor-length silk robe. In the clip, she pans over her figure before telling the camera, "Four weeks postpartum—you have no idea what this body can do."

But now that she's welcomed their new addition, Ashanti is soaking up every minute of being a new parent.

"I’ve been waiting to be a mom for a long time now," she added in the post, "but nothing could prepare me for EVERYTHING motherhood brings!"

Ashanti and Nelly, 49, announced their pregnancy and engagement simultaneously in April, seven months after confirming they had rekindled their early aughts romance. Shortly after, public records revealed the couple had already quietly tied the knot in December 2023. 

And fans weren't the only ones surprised the pair had reunited. As Ashanti put it to Entertainment Tonight in June, "Never in a million years did I think we would be here."

"Ten years ago—maybe yes—but after our breakup," she continued, "you know, I didn't even think we'd ever have a conversation again."

And Nelly—who is also father to Chanelle and son Cornell Haynes III with ex Channetta Valentine, and adopted his sister Jackie Donahue's kids, Shawn and Sydney Thomas, after she passed away in 2005—echoed her sentiments, telling Boss Moves With Rasheeda host Rasheeda Frost in September 2023 that getting back together "surprised both of us."

"We both was pretty much doing what we do," the "Ride Wit Me" rapper shared. "But sometimes being separate, you understand one another more."

Read on for more stars who welcomed babies in 2024...

The country star welcomed a new gold chain cowboy when his wife gave birth son Major Yancey Tyler McCollum on Aug. 8.

Jenna Bush Hager announced on Aug. 5 that her twin sister gave birth to a baby boy named Edward Finn Coyne.

"My sissy had a little mister," the Today anchor wrote on Instagram, "and I fell madly in love with Edward Finn!"

On July 24, the Whose Line Is It Anyway? star revealed that he has a "6-month-old son that people don’t know about."

"It was not on my bingo card: 51-year-old dad—brand new kid," he continued, sharing that he welcomed baby boy Val Henry with an ex-girlfriend named Tina. "I didn’t see it coming."

The "See You Again" rapper—who shares son Sebastian Taylor with ex Amber Rose—privately welcomed a baby girl, Kadence, with girlfriend of five years Aimee Aguilar on July 17. 

Two years after welcoming son Dawson, the Bachelor in Paradise alums added to their brood with the July 22 arrival of their second baby boy Hayden Cruise Haibon.

The Dancing With the Stars couple welcomed their third son, Milan Maksim Chmerkovskiy, on July 12.

The WNBA star and her wife welcomed a baby boy weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces, on July 8. 

"That's my man. He is amazing," Brittney told CBS Sports. "They said as soon as you see them, everything that you thought mattered just goes out the window. That's literally what happened."

The Step Up star welcomed her third baby and second child with her fiancé on June 14, the couple confirmed on Instagram June 20.

"Rhiannon Lee Kathryn Kazee," the duo captioned their joint post. "From the moment you arrived, you have brought immense joy and love into our lives… your gentle grace, sweetness, and beauty have captivated our entire family." 

The "Bury Me in Georgia" singer and his wife officially welcomed their third child on June 18, a baby boy named Krewe Allen Brown.

The Glee star and his wife Mia Swier welcomed their second child on June 3, a baby boy named Brother László Criss.

"M & D just delivered their follow-up single," Darren wrote on Instagram June 6. "Brother László Criss. 6/3/24. Out now… and yes his first name is Brother."

The Oscar nominee and her husband shared they welcomed their twins, a girl and a boy named Maya and Cooper in April. 

"Brandon always wanted to name a son Cooper, so we can call him 'Coop,'" Gabourey told The Shade Room June 6, "and Maya was named shortly before our baby moon to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico. Both twins have traditional West African middle names after members of my family."

The Property Brothers star and his wife Linda Phan welcomed their second child on May 21, a baby girl named Piper Rae.

"Our family of 3 has become 4!" the couple wrote in a joint Intagram post June 5. "Piper Rae, I love you with all my heart."

The YouTuber and her husband Moses Hacmon welcomed their second child together, a baby girl named Elvis, she shared on Instagram June 4.

Erin Foster and her husband Simon welcomed their first baby, daughter Noa Mimi Tikhman on May 17. 

"Truly the most insane experience of my life, with the best ending,” Erin wrote in a May 19 Instagram post announcing the couple's new addition. "Being totally unbiased I would say she’s perfect and super advanced already, and might be the first person I’ve met who prefers me to Simon."

The NBA star and his wife welcomed their fourth baby, son Caius Chai, May 11.

The Walking Dead alum Tom Payne and his wife Jennifer announced they welcomed identical twins on April 1, 2024. 

“We are overjoyed to share the news that on April 1st, 2024, we welcomed twins into our family,” the couple said in a statement. “An entirely unexpected and wonderful surprise.” 

The duo also share a son, Harrison, who was born in 2022. 

Big Time Rush member Kendall and his wife Mica announced that they have welcomed their first child together, a baby girl named Maple.

The couple shared the news in a joint Instagram post March 22, posting photo of Maple as well as one of Kendall and Mica posing with their baby girl.

The married Revenge alumni welcomed their second daughter, Rio Rose, on March 12.

The Love is Blind and Bachelorette alums welcomed their son, Heath Orion Horstmann, in March.

"Our lives are brighter, fuller, and forever better," they wrote in their announcement. "Thank you for all of the love and well wishes, Heath has so many people who love him. We're parents!"

Katie Couric became a grandmother after her eldest daughter, Ellie Monahan, welcomed her first baby with her husband, a son named John Albert.

"Mom and Dad (Ellie and Mark) are over the moon (it was a full moon)," she wrote on Instagram March 24. "I am thrilled to have my first grandchild, Carrie can't wait to be a cool Aunt and Molner is enjoying handing out cigars. We feel so blessed."

There's something about this family, as the Good Charlotte rocker and the Charlie's Angels alum welcomed their second child—a baby boy named Cardinal Madden.

"He is awesome," they share in a joint Instagram post on March 22, "and We are all so happy he is here!"

The “Titanium” artist and Adonai actress shared that they welcomed their first baby together, Cyan.

“Love is in the air,” David and Jessica wrote in a joint Instagram post March 17. “Welcome Cyan.”

The rapper announced the arrival of her daughter Kali Love on March 15. 

The former Bachelor contestant and  San Francisco 49ers linebacker welcomed their first baby, a son named Beau Anthony, on March 7. 

The couple announced the news on Instagram March 11, and noted in the caption that it was the “best day of our lives.”

Princess Diana's niece celebrated Mother's Day in the U.K. by sharing she and her husband privately welcomed their first baby.

“It’s the joy of my life to be your mummy, little one. I love you unconditionally," she captioned her March 10 Instagram post. "Happy Mother’s Day to those who celebrate today."

Pitch Perfect star Adam Devine and wife Chloe Bridges shared that they welcomed their first baby, son Beau Devine, on Feb. 16.

The Wonder Woman star announced on March 6 that she and her husband had welcomed their fourth baby, a daughter named Ori. According to the actress, the name means "my light" in Hebrew.

TLC singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas is officially a grandmother after her son and wife welcomed their baby girl on March 2.

Ted Lasso's Brendan Hunt welcomed his second son with fianceé Shannon Nelson on March 1. The 51-year-old announced on Instagram, “Say hello to Archibald Felix Nelson Hunt (Archie will do), born Friday March 1st, coming in at 9+lbs. He’s in perfect health, and his weary hero of a mother is recovering peacefully."

On Feb. 29, the Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott welcomed his first child, daughter MJ, with girlfriend Sarah Jane Ramos.