I have been told I didn't "do the job properly" or know what birth is really like because I had a life saving c section. There is shaming towards some mothers who have had sections, how very fortunate you are that you haven't encountered this.

I've actually heard a lot of stories of women being shamed by other women for having c-sections and not going through a "real" birth. I've also personally have seen it happen in mommy groups as well. I have 3 children and made the choice to have my 3rd by c-section after my second child suffered severe head trauma that lead to 2 brain surgeries before he was 18 months old because of birth. First thing my doctor told me afterwards was that she was amazing I managed to have 2 children naturally with the way my body is built. I have also actually had women tell me I should be ashamed of myself for not "trusting in God" that things would be okay. I'm a Christian, but I also believe in making educated decisions. There's actually a whole group of women out there who shame other women for not having children "the way God intended." It's disgusting.

I think the only shame i feel with the c-section is that i never felt how it was like to hold my baby after birth. i feel and will always feel like i missed something and watching this image made me cry. i think it's gorgeous. but you are right, i have no shame in my scar...

Personally I wanted a natural birth so bad that even 13 months later I question whether or not the c section was the right thing even though my Dr said it was an emergency. I do feel ashamed and less of a woman because my body couldn't do it naturally. I am not sure why I feel this way exactly but I think it mostly stems from everyone consistently telling me that my body "was made for this [natural birth]." Even my own mom's response when we told her we had to have an emergency c-section were "are you sure you HAVE to?" Like she thought I was opting for an easy way out. (After 21 hours of labor) In the end I'm glad we did it because my baby boy is perfect, healthy, and the love of my life but I will always feel like I am somehow flawed for not being able to "do the job properly."

I am glad you didn't feel shame, but shame after a c section very much exists. This article did not bring up a new phenomenon. I felt shame after my C section.

I have a really hard time with having had a c section, in a lot of ways. I feel like I cheated, despite still not being quite back to normal almost a year later (random weird abdominal pains near my scar, etc). And several people commented that I got "The easy way out".

"I never heard of any woman who was ashamed of this...ever...." Well, now you have...me. I was young and due to 2 breech births back in the 70's, I had to have 2 C-sections. One scar is vertical, the other horizontal, and I hate them both. I love my 2 daughters with all my heart, but felt the scars were disfiguring.

Imagine the surprise when me and my friend finally spoke about this and realized we both where ashamed of our c-sections. We both felt we had somehow failed and where lesser woman for not being able to give birth naturally. For almost 2 years we did´t know we shared that feeling. For me it´s been 4 years now and it still feels the same...Still the same grief that I could´t do it, and now it´s been fueled by c-sec nr. 2 as my body still would´t work right the second time.... So yes..... some woman are ashamed....

"I never heard of any woman who was ashamed of this...ever.." Well now you have. Me. I had 2 C-sections, both in the 70's. I was young and due to breech births, had to have the C-sections instead. One scar is up and down, the other is across, and I hate them both. I love my girls with all my heart, but hate having those disfiguring scars.