The Hunt for Positive Birth Stories

I smiled after reading that one of my favorite bloggers had given birth to her daughter. However, my smile faded a bit after reading Advice for a new mom, a guest blog post. Why? Well, because it is the sort of experience I am so not looking forward to. The words "there was pitocin, crying, and an epidural involved" made me sigh. "Seriously?" I thought.

Then I remembered a few of my friends and family sharing with me their birth stories. Each one seemed to be stuck on the idea that their greatest fears and options revolved around having a healthy baby. Which makes sense, what Mom wouldn't do something when asked to do save or help their baby? If you didn't, wouldn't that make you a bad person or even an unfit mother?

Each story sounded down right traumatic. A few of my friends seemed to waver between supreme confidence that their experience was the only way the birth could have happened, or between tears justifying to me, and maybe themselves that the pain that pitocin caused or the C-section was indeed necessary. Four women have now shared with me they felt robbed of being able to make decisions for themselves, and that their experience was downright terrifying. I even had one friend tell me that after having a natural birth, the doctors gave her less than give minutes to deliver the placenta then injected her with Pitocin, creating the most excruciating pain she had ever experienced.

So, do hospitals have contracts with Hollywood? Geez, why was I hearing about these experiences? Dramatic bright lights, machines hooked up monitoring the progress and then the doctor gives the laboring mother options to start drugs ... you know for the benefit of the baby, to SAVE the baby. One thing leads to another and the Mom is on a path of fear trudging down this path of "I will do anything, just take care of my baby!". Not sure of all the details surrounding the birth experience of the gal writing for Fitnessista I began to ponder. Why are there so few highlighted positive natural birth stories? 

Well, one I have yet to hear is my mother in law's. I shared these concerns with her a few weeks ago at Christmas and she said "Well, if you ever need to hear a positive birth story let me know." She had two natural drug-free births. So, when I get a chance I will indeed listen carefully to her experience. 

The hunt was on to find and highlight positive birth stories. 

As a disclaimer, I totally understand and appreciate that there are indeed times were intervention is needed, where it does indeed save mothers and babies. However it sure sounds like there are more interventions and emergencies situations that should be probable considering how long women have been giving birth. 

Finn's Birth

First off I found, Melinda Whyman's story. She points out in her story that leading up to her birth she surrounded her self with positive people. From her midwives, other mothers and support groups she found that having that support and education really helped her. Not only did she have a positive drug-free birth. She did it at home, and in her own bathtub assisted only by her husband. Her midwives arrived knocking at the door after the main event had already taken place.

Ayla Rose's Birth
Then I found myself back at Fitnessista blog happy to read Gina's two part birth story. I will let you read her experience as she had planned a natural birth assisted by midwives. She reflects on her experience and is actively working with lactation consultants to learn breastfeeding skills. Love this gal! Read part 1 & part 2.

An OB's Homebirth:
This Mom shares her experience on deciding to have a homebirth as well as being a OB herself. I also really appreciated her pros and cons of a homebirth vs a hospital birth. "

"I hate how everything is done with this fear of litigation -- this fear leads to so many inductions and cesareans.  I also hate how anyone who doesn't want an epidural is 'crazy.'  This lack of importance of onset of natural labor.  Basically, the lack of respect for women's bodies and what they can do. " - Read the full post

More links:
Positive Birth Stories
6 Myths About Childbirth Exposed

Yoga Janda - Positive Birth Stories

The more I looked for positive birth stories, the more I found. I also ran into plenty of negative stories too, both scary homebirth and hospital births. Sadly, overall the looming fear women have around birth was a common theme. I regularly read and enjoy Birth without Fear by a local mother of five.