Three years ago, she began a photo project titled “4th Trimester Bodies” to ensure just that.
She had an emergency surgery to try and save both twins, but to no avail.
The pregnancy left her with a giant scar across her stomach, and a heavy heart.
Ashlee Dean Wells
But it inspired her, too.
“I just felt really devastated and broken,” Wells says.
In the photo, Wells is bravely wearing just her underwear, proudly showing the scars of her experience.
She shared the photo (pictured above) on her Facebook page, and it started resonating with women.
“Thinking back to that, I never could imagine how needed it was,” she says.
“I couldn’t understand the magnitude of women all around that we needed to reach.”
“This project really turns that on its head.
Through the4th Trimester Bodies website,women interested in participating can book a session with Wells.
She’s based in Chicago, but she travels to different cities and countries to offer sessions.
Read Nicki Taylor’s story of fighting breast cancerhere.
Read Carla Pastorelli’s story of learning to put her mental health firsthere.
Read Abby Theuring’s story of empowering the breastfeeding communityhere.
Read Florence Aferi-Gordon’s story of learning to love her bodyhere.
Read Lauren Griffin’s story of overcoming postpartum depressionhere.
Read Xochil Springer’s story of her struggle to breastfeedhere.
Read Amanda Katzer’s story on what made her decide to have childrenhere.
Read Corrie Metz’s story on fighting her anxietyhere.
Read Vanessa Martin’s story on having babies with Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndromehere.
Update 6/21/2016: The piece has been updated to reflect the photographer’s name, .
