Warning: Some readers may find the photo in this article graphic.
A new mum has posted a raw photo of her caesarean scar to prove she still “gave birth” to her baby.
Jodie Shaw posted a photo on the Facebook page ‘Birth Without Fear’ after being told that having a caesarean means she didn’t “give birth”.
But Shaw is determined to changed people’s views and let them know her scar saved her life.
“Can we please just stop,” she wrote on the Facebook post.
“I’ve decided to post this picture to see if it may make people understand that despite what our birth plans might say, sometimes we don’t get a choice.
“I didn’t get a choice.”
Shaw explained she had a fibroid the “size of a melon” sat on her cervix. A fibroid is a compact tumour made of muscle cells and connective tissue that develop in the uterus.
Because of this and the position of her placenta, she was left with “no ordinary c-section scar”.
Shaw continued: “But whether you believe this or not: I gave birth to my baby.
“So next time you judge someone for not doing what you consider to be ‘giving birth’, please take a minute to think about why they may have had to deliver that way.
“Think about the fact that given the choice they probably wouldn’t have chosen this but had no choice.
“This scar saved me from losing a life-threatening amount of blood and meant my baby was brought into this world as she should be. Healthy and unharmed, as was I.”
Shaw’s post resonated with many other mums who have given birth via c-sections.
“You are so strong and I completely agree,” one person commented.
“I had to have an emergency c section after 24 hours of getting induced. It was traumatising and hard as hell. at first I hated my scar but now I’m proud of it!”
Another mother wrote: “You absolutely gave birth. And even if you had elected to have the c-section, you still would have given birth.
“Thank you for bringing this up, more mums need to talk about it and not be ashamed.”