Most of us have a preconceived idea of what will happen during our labour: we'll go in, push a lot, and then get to hold our little baba in our arms (yes, we cut out quite a lot).
However, things don't always go as scheduled, and a well thought-out birth plan doesn't always, well, go to plan!
Sadly, some mums who have a C-section, whether planned or not, can be left struggling with their emotions - sad they didn't get to give birth vaginally.
Sad things didn't go exactly the way they wanted.
And this is where The Honest Body Positive Project comes in.
Photographer Natalie McCain shares honest stories and untouched portraits in her quest to make people feel better about themselves, and now wants mums to feel good about their bodies after giving birth.
As part of the project, Natalie shared a series of images of Jacqueline, a mum-of-three, before her stitches were taken out following her third C-section.
"I first photographed this mother in 2015," the photographer wrote.
"I visited her the other night and photographed her again, after her third C-section and the birth of her third child.
"These were taken the night before her staples were removed."
Hoping to help those who are struggling with their own body image, Natalie continued:
"Her body didn't fail.
"Your body didn't fail.
"I hope these images touch the hearts of those who struggle after giving birth via C-section."
Sharing her experience of giving birth via C-section, Jacqueline said: "I hear a lot of talk from other moms about wishing our bodies didn’t fail.
"How a 'traditional' birth would have been better, and wondering how we wound up here.
"I can tell you I didn’t plan on a C-section.
"I didn’t want a C-section…but my body didn’t fail.
"This body that has seen surgeries, tumours, three C-sections and incredible loss didn’t fail me one bit.
"My baby is alive, I’m alive, and no scar or procedure will take that away from me."
The project is incredibly important in highlighting that no matter what way you give birth, you are still giving birth.
You are still welcoming a new life into the world. A life that you have grown inside of you.
