Cesarean Scar and/or Incision

12 Months Postpartum (After 2 cesareans/girls) (Anonymous)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Butt, Cesarean, Cesarean Scar and/or Incision, Complications in Pregnancy, Postpartum, Second Pregnancy, Submissions 18 Comments

I was originally told I could not have any children. One thing I could never accept. After 7 years of trying, I finally succeeded in falling pregnant naturally (2004). My first little girl was born exactly 8pounds via caeser because she was breech. I developed pre-eclampsia with this one and managed to put on a successful (?) 28kg!!! I started at a comfortable 57kg. I again fell pregnant in 2006 with my second girl who was born 7 pound. This time round I was very, very sick. In/out of hospital. Went into labour at 26 weeks and for 3 days off/on laboured. Thankfully both girls came at 38 weeks. They were and are both very healthy. I put on 4kg (yes, only 4kg) with my 2nd. After a week post partum, I was 69kg. However!! Like my first, the angel was no angel. I seeked refuge all things sugary and fattening…. ate packets and packets of chocolate biscuits!!! Put on weight (more than I weight full term) … I am almost happy to say that I am on the road to slimming down… I am hovering over 68-69kg and would like to lose another 8kg. This site is a wonderful tool in showing other mum’s that it is ok to have stretch marks, to have saggy breasts, less than perfectly smooth skin on your tummy… you are, after all, the creator and carrier of life. You have been given the cherished role of all…. I try to live by saying “my body is evidence of the miracle of my girls”. Good luck everyone…. xo





My Love, My Life, My Inspiration (Tsi K.)

Bonnie (SOAM) African American, Back, Cesarean, Cesarean Scar and/or Incision, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions, Update 11 Comments

I have posted previously (here), but did not have the courage to show my face, lol!I decided to go ahead and take the plunge today, after witnessing so many other women doing the same. Childbirth, and indeed motherhood are such beautiful and overwhelming miracles, and oftentimes, I find myself gazing at my little girl and wondering how and why I was chosen to raise and nurture such a beautiful soul.I strive to to be a role model for her, even at her tender age of 2. I know I only have a few precious years to teach her love of self, before she begins to understand, and perhaps be influenced by the the damaging descriptions of the female body that have forced many women and even children to travel down the path of self-disgust and self-hatred. I traveled such a path for many years before I became pregnant, but finally resolved to accept myself the way I was, for fear that I would one day have a daughter, and pass that negativity down to her. Well, God smiled down upon me that day, and I am thankful for it, because now my ‘just in case daughter’ is a beautiful reality, and a daily reminder to love and be kind to myself in order to set a positive example for her. The first picture was taken when I was 9 months pregnant, and then next three were taken within the last week. I have included a picture of my c-section scar, of which I am so proud! Towards the end of my pregnancy I got plenty of stretch marks under my breasts, but only a few on my mid-section (some on each hip bone.)The last picture is of course, my sunshine and reason for being.Thank you to all of the beautiful women who have contributed their stories and their images to this site. There is nothing more powerful than one woman being an inspiration to another, and you have all been an inspiration to me!







Updated here.

Sydney

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Cesarean, Cesarean Scar and/or Incision, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Pregnant, Submissions 12 Comments

My name is Sydney, I am 21 years old with a wonderful 4 month old daughter.

I gained about 65 pounds during my pregnancy, and after my c-section, I felt so sick that I could barely move or eat, and I lost a lot of the weight. Now that I am fully recovered I have gained it all back, and then some. Sometimes I look down and think I might still be pregnant!

Since I can remember, I have had major self-esteem and body image issues. And I have to say, that most times I feel ugly. I am a single mother, and I worry a lot about finding someone now. The thought of someone seeing me naked keeps me awake at night sometimes. But after looking through the lovely photos on this site, and reading the amazing stories, I looked in the mirror, and thought ‘maybe I am beautiful, too…’

And maybe, if I can believe that I am beautiful, and love my body after all, I can teach my daughter to do the same.

Anonymous

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Breasts, Cesarean, Cesarean Scar and/or Incision, First Pregnancy, Postpartum, Submissions, Update 18 Comments

This is my body 2.5 years after I gave birth to my first (and so far only) child. Although pregnancy was kind to me and I lost all my “baby weight” shortly after giving birth, nevertheless, my body is not the same. Breasts that were once perky and full are now limp and floppy from vigorous nursing that lasted 13 wonderful months. A belly that was once firm and flat now sticks out exactly as it did in pictures of myself at five months pregnant. It took a concentrated effort not to suck it in for these pictures: it’s become a totally subconscious habit for me. I was lucky not to get any stretch marks, but I do bear the scar from where they took my son out of me after 46 hours of labor. Oddly enough, it is darker on one half than the other.

Thank you for this site. I hope it has helped many women realize that the changes to their fertile bodies should be embraced, not scorned. We are all mothers and we wear it proudly.


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Anonymous

Bonnie (SOAM) Cesarean, Cesarean Scar and/or Incision, No Photos (Story Only), Postpartum, Submissions 2 Comments

I Will work on Getting you a picture of my apron, After I had Owen last christmas I stood in the shower and my sister was trying to help me clean up my incision – which broke open. And she literally had to lift up the flap of skin to access my incison, she was mortified at how much extra ski I had. I am so thankful that you started this website.

Heather (Babs)

Bonnie (SOAM) Belly, Cesarean, Cesarean Scar and/or Incision, Child Loss, Submissions 21 Comments

Hi,
I did the post for “Babs”, with the black and white picture that showed the c-section scar.
I came back and read some of the comments that people had left. I was a little afraid to at first, wondering if they’d all be around the lines of “You’re so lucky” – and I was so grateful to see that they weren’t: everyone’s different. This blog is inspirational and I’m so glad it’s here.

Someone commented in a way that felt very true to me. She said: “Thanks for sharing your photos. My body bounces back fairly well, too. I lost my first child when she was 16 days old, and I actually hated that my body bounced back. It was if all evidence of her had been erased, except for the c/s scar. I wish I had taken a pic of myself like you did. With baby #2 (a boy) I didn’t bounce back quite as well, but I’m nearing 40 and I think I look ok. Anyway, I related to your post in a big way and had to say thanks for having the courage to share.”

I wanted to say that sometimes those stretch marks that everyone hates can be something another yearns for. I don’t get any marks on my stomach, and the only stretch marks I’ve ever gotten were faint ones on my hips. After I had my son, my stomach went flat almost immediately. I felt carved after my c-section, and confused. I had it done under general anesthetic and I was not able to see him until after he’d died. The entire birth, and life, experience was robbed from me.

Going home with no carseat, in pre-pregnancy jeans felt unfair: I wanted something, anything, some evidence that he existed. Something other than a c-section scar that I felt ashamed of because I was forced into it. I am still coming to terms with these feelings as I await the birth of my third child. I’ve considered having a tattoo done of the only partial handprint the hospital offered me, so I could leave his mark on my body in a place no one but me would see unless I chose to show them.

Mamas: cherish your battle wounds, your stretch marks and bellies. They are beautiful; they are the footprints that your children have left behind as were created and nourished, and while you may have days where you want to hide them, others might be looking on at the majesty that is a mother’s body and appreciating them for the art they are.

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Updated here.