birth experience

If you’re about to give birth and feeling nervous, know this

You've got this, mama.

Christy Turlington Burns’ birth story inspired her to help other mothers

"That experience is what opened my eyes to this global tragedy. You know I did not know that women and girls were still dying in pregnancy-related complications all over the world. I had no idea," shares Burns.

Lake Bell shares how her home births didn’t go as planned

Bell says that she grappled with some guilt over her decision to have a home birth in the aftermath of this experience.

Kate Mara is refreshingly honest about her emergency C-section

But she says that looking back, she wouldn't do a thing differently.

My husband won’t be my birth coach—and we’re both okay with that

Our doula Amy—calm, experienced, and a veteran of childbirth herself—was the right person to have at the helm.

I didn’t have the birth experience I wanted, but it brought me exactly what I needed

The treasured story of how I became a mom, that pulls at me and pushes me every single day.

Giving birth was nothing like what I expected

Like many moms, I had a birth plan, but that plan went flying out the second story hospital window when the maternity unit team informed me that I had an infection commonly contracted by women in labor.

I desperately wanted a VBAC for my second birth experience

I felt like he took my birth experience and placed it into a tiny box to check. Sitting there, I felt like I had my birth plan taken from me. I was powerless and devastated—for months.

My traumatic birth shaped the way I planned for my second delivery

Months after my son was born, after I had finally figured motherhood out a little, I began to cope with my trauma.

My birth experience was traumatic—but I am slowly starting to heal

You would think almost dying would make me grateful for living—but it left me stunned and incredibly sad.

My birth experience traumatized me, and now I’m not sure if I want another baby

So I'm giving myself grace. I'm letting my mind and body heal for however long it takes.

My hypnobirth empowered me beyond belief

I still call back some of the techniques I learned in hypnobirthing in my everyday life.

To my best friend: Thank you for letting me be a part of your birth experience

I will always cherish this experience with you.

A Birth Story in Pictures

This is what having a baby looks like.