Kimberly Burk (24) and Theodore (13 days old)
California / Washington | Photographed in Portland, OR
Kimberly shares -
"We had a difficult time conceiving, a lot of late periods with negative tests, and a doctor who said I "probably can't get pregnant anyway". I had my baby via c section, during which they found that I have a unicornuate uterus. In short, it causes fertility issues, and for those who do conceive only about half of the babies make it to full term, so we're not sure that it would be safe or wise to try again. I haven't experienced losses or miscarriages, but it has felt like a long and difficult journey to get to where we are now.
I absolutely love my body right now, and I am so proud of what it's done. I was surprised to find myself taking pictures of my body while I was still healing in the hospital, mesh panties and all, but I was so proud of what my body accomplished. I think that pride and the beautiful baby that I have now is what's making me love how I look more than anything!
My postpartum journey has definitely been different than what I expected! I thought I would have a much harder time healing and adjusting, not that it has been easy by any means, I just didn't expect instinct to kick in as much as it did. I was worried about things like postpartum depression, not bonding with the baby quickly, having trouble with breastfeeding, or just an overall realization hitting me that I'm not ready to be a parent, despite how much we've planned for this! I was extremely fortunate in having nothing to worry about. As soon as I saw his face I knew we were ready. My husband and I make a great team, and our son is the perfect third teammate. We were worried about how to adjust once he came, but he fits into our lives so perfectly it's hard to remember what it was like before he was here. He was an obvious missing piece to our lives, and such a huge blessing, which is a prominent truth in my postpartum life.
It's incredibly important for women to feel pride and love for their bodies, and I feel that this project encourages that! Our bodies are amazing and should be celebrated!
It's okay to feel overwhelmed, and it's okay to ask for help, hand the baby to someone else, and go take a breath.