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C-Section Scars: Badass Moms Show Them Off Loud And Proud

Breaking down the stigma, one photo at a time.
Kristy Woudstra

With the stigma that continues to swirl around C-sections, brave moms are taking to Instagram to show off their battle scars. They are also sharing their stories, which prove there is absolutely no reason to feel shame for having had the procedure.

No matter how our little ones come into this world, their entrance is worth celebration -- as are their fierce mamas.

"Although it's not an easy ordeal to endure, the cesarean section has been saving the lives of moms and babies since 1881. To me, the war mark it leaves behind is just a reminder of the amazing moment I became a mom."


"I've had lots of women ask to see my #csectionscar and never felt the need to 'show it off' until I've had some recent comments of people stating 'I took the easy way out.'"

Where are my #csection mamas at?! This is a really personal post for me, I've had lots of women ask to see my #csectionscar and never felt the need to "show it off" until I've had some recent comments of people stating "I took the easy way out" 😒 when it comes to the safety of your child it's not a matter of easy or hard. I wanted a vaginal birth very badly but it wasn't in the cards. As for the easy way out, having a csection isn't/wasn't easy. My vagina may still be in tact and I didn't have to feel hours of labor pains but I did go through weeks of pain, a csection is a major surgery. I got stuck with the epidural needle 4 times (the anesthesiologist couldn't get it right on), I couldn't feel my legs for 6 hours and then was forced to walk around while in a great deal of pain. I had to lay there getting glued back together, watching my husband hold our baby for the first time, after all the nurses cleaned him up. I didn't get that magical moment of having him in my arms the second he came out. But looking back at it all I have no regrets. I had mentally prepared for a csection most of my pregnancy and I remember the doctor telling me "you don't look nervous at all" - and I wasn't. I was ready. I was ready to do whatever it took to bring Mason into this world safely, even if that meant no natural delivery. And don't think I'm knocking on natural delivery moms, I have so much respect for the hours/days you women go through in labor to bring these precious Angels into the world. And even more respect for the emergency csection moms, having to accept that surgery last minute after hours of labor must be one of the hardest things a mother has to comprehend last minute . So no matter the delivery of the baby, we moms are strong 💪🏼 how our babies are brought into the world is such a little means compared to the intense hours we moms put in through a lifetime to become the best mothers we can. To all the moms out there, never forget how strong you are and how much your babies, children, & grown children love you 💕#rantover 😝

A photo posted by Rachel Ruby 💚Wellness Coach💚 (@rubywellness) on


"I now proudly wear them as triumph from the struggle of complicated pregnancies and how God has given me strength to raise them into the healthy energetic kids they are today."


"Promoting togetherness and sisterhood mamas everywhere."


"#csectionscar #adifferentkindofbeautiful #worthit"

#csectionscar #adifferentkindofbeautiful #worthit

A photo posted by Julie Smith Kovach (@allthingsjuliekovach) on


"Cesarean birth is birth. It is often times a more challenging birth with a story behind the scar. This is my scar. It's not pretty and I never wanted it, but I am proud of it."


"My baby is beautiful. My body is strong. My birth matters."

my baby is beautiful my body is strong my birth matters *CSECTION PRIDE* #4days vs #3months

A photo posted by Kat (@pluviophile.feline) on


"Having a c-section doesn't make me any less of a mother."


"Does it make you uncomfortable?"


"I love my scar because it's my mark of our survival."

I'd like to send a big thanks to @angelmarievp for reminding me the other day that our scars are all beautiful. 3 years ago, I was just shy of being 1 year postpartum and post HELLP syndrome but my scar was still incredibly itchy at times. Now my scar is almost 4 years old and in that time I've been pregnant twice, suffered a loss, then gone on to have a complication free VBAC. My body and my scar have changed over the years, and the itchiness is long gone now, but the whole area is still numb in a lot of places. I imagine it always will be. Numbness and all, I love my scar because it's my mark of our survival. #NICUawarenessMonth #PreemieMom #NICUmom #CsectionScar #LoveMyScar #CsectionMom #HELLPsyndrome #HELLPsyndromeSurvivor #WhatTheHELLP @whatthehellp #timehop #ThenAndNow

A photo posted by L A U R A (@lmy612) on


"These are my battle scars. More permanent than any tattoo and reminiscent to the tiny, perfect life that I created."


"My little twins were one by one carefully pulled outta that redish purplish line -- pretty amazing, huh?"


"Couldn't be prouder of my mum scars -- you do whatever it takes."


"This photo just says it all."


"I'm glad that my only hang-up about my tummy is my tattoo (that I wholeheartedly regret these days) rather than my stretch marks and c-section scar."


"I may not like the look of it, but it will always be a wonderful reminder of the precious moment I got to meet my little man!!"

So this is my C-Section scar in all its hideous glory, 5 weeks 6days postpartum. It's a lot longer and wonkier than I had anticipated and is still very sore and a bit swollen but I still find it amazing that this is the place where my little Zephyr entered the world. I may not like the look of it, but it will always be a wonderful reminder of the precious moment I got to meet my little man!! (Got to love my wonky linea nigra line too, which has got a lot darker since the birth) I'm looking forward to everything fading and eventually getting some tone back! #rollonsummer #nofilter # #csectionscar #scar #csection #postpartum #ZephyrOceanWard #babyboy #tattoos #lineanigra #line #wonky #lookforwardtogettingbacktoexerciseeventually #fitness #fitfam #baby #belly #mummytummy #postpartumbody

A photo posted by Jennifer Ward (@jennyw30) on


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