Why Should I read Positive Birth Stories?

If you’re pregnant, you may be feeling excited, nervous, or even a little scared about giving birth. It’s completely normal to have all of these emotions. I want to give you an amazing thing to do in pregnancy to help your birth: read positive birth stories. Especially if you’re feeling anxious about birth.

Now, you might be thinking, “Why should I read about other people’s birth experiences? Won’t it just make me more anxious?” But hear me out. When you’re pregnant, there is a lot of white noise around birth, and unfortunately, a lot of it is negative. From horror stories shared by well-meaning friends and family members to negative news articles and TV shows, it can feel like there is a lot of fear-mongering and negativity surrounding childbirth.

This is where positive birth stories come in. Reading about other people’s positive birth experiences can help to counteract some of that negative birth chatter. It can give you confidence and re-wire your brain that birth doesn’t have to be a traumatic experience. It can also help you to envision the type of birth you want for yourself, and give you ideas for how to make that vision a reality.

Be inspired to advocate for yourself

One of the benefits of reading positive birth stories is that it can help you to feel more empowered and in control of your own birth experience. When you hear about other women who were able to have a positive birth experience, it can make you feel like you can do it too. It can also give you ideas for how to advocate for yourself during the birth process (we call it using EBRAN here), and how to work with your midwife or doctor to create a birth plan that aligns with your values and desires.

Immerse yourself with things going “right”

Another benefit of reading positive birth stories is that it can help to reduce fear and anxiety around childbirth. When you’re pregnant, it’s easy to get caught up in worrying about all of the things that could go “wrong” during birth. But when you read stories of women who had positive birth experiences, it can help to shift your focus to the things that can go right.

Understand that “Plan B”, or even C can be still be really positive

Reading about the experiences of others can also help you to reframe your mindset around your birth deviating from the plan. One of my fave affirmations is “you are strong enough to walk whatever path your birth takes”. Because – you really are. Reading about women who had inductions, episiotomies, caesareans (both planned and unplanned) can empower you to know that you can do it too. I have sooo many birth stories on my blog of women who had incredible births even though it wasn’t their Plan A.

I hope this has been helpful, and would love to hear your thoughts – leave a comment below!

And of course, head here to read positive birth stories.