Birth Stories
I’m obsessed with birth stories.
I love reading them, learning the details of such a significant day in someone’s life, and am especially intrigued because everyone’s birth story is so different.
I only know some of the details about the day I was born. Of course, I was late (a trait that has stayed with me for my entire life. Just the other night, I told Tom “Hurry! I told Mom we were going to be there early!” to which he replied “ ‘Early’ is a word that I think you should never use. Ever”), and the whole shebang ended with my mom getting an epidural –which gave her the shakes- and a C-section since I refused to leave my water bed. My mom has told me what she remembers –she’s had 3 kids- but there’s something different and so special about reading about the sequence of events and emotions during labor and birth, written while the memories are still fresh.
This is one of the reasons I’ve read Ina May’s book “Natural Guide to Childbirth” more than twice:
The first half of the book consists of entirely birth stories. Some of them are a little *out there*, but most of them made me cry happy tears. Every now and again, I’ll pick a random page and read a birth story.
It’s funny because when I first read Ina May’s book a year and a half ago, the stories were interesting to read, but filled me with anxiety. I would start to read, and immediately get nervous. I still was getting over the fact that the baby actually does, indeed, have to come out from your body, and it freaked me out a little. Now, when I read the stories in Ina May’s book, it fills me with excitement to know that our baby’s birth story will be written within a couple of months. [And yes, it does still freak me out that the baby has to come out of your body, but I’ve found comfort in the fact that our bodies are designed for that. Once Tom said “It’s going to be like pushing a watermelon out of your nose!” and I told him that noses aren’t designed for watermelon pushing]
I’ve also really enjoyed reading all of the birth stories I can find online from blog friends and people whom I’ve never met.
Friends sans kids, do you enjoy reading birth stories, or do they creep you out?
Moms out there, did you write out your birth story? What’s the most vivid memory of the day your child was born?
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I don’t have kids but I watch A Baby Story and Bringing Home Baby religiously when I’m home and my family thinks I’m crazy. Anytime they see me watching it they say “why don’t you just have one already instead of watching this?” My reply is always, “I need a man for that first” and they go “ohh yea…” and back away from the room.
Great fun.
haha i used to use a similar response when tom was deployed. everyone would ask “when are you guys going to start having kids” “probably when my husband and i are in the same country”
I don’t have kids. I don’t mind birthing stories, but I can’t say I can relate, so it’s hard. My roommate (also no kids) reads up on birthing quite a bit. She’s super into it and will be totally ready someday. I can’t say that I eagerly join her in the discussion though, and I’m not sure why. I think when I’m eventually pregnant I’ll change my tune. I feel the same way about planning for a wedding!
Some of the pictures in there are pretty trippy as well. And your parts apparently expand to the size of a grapefruit. Eep!
ahhhhhh!!!
yes, some of the pictures are a little intense haha
but isn’t it so amazing that our bodies were MEANT to do that???
I love reading birth stories too! The 2 most vivid things that I remember about when my son was born 6 weeks ago are: at 4:30 the midwife saying I was going to need to have a c-section because the fetal heart rate was too low and hearing my son cry for the first time. I wrote down his birth story in a journal that I have for him. I write in it and will continue to do so and when he is older I will be able to give it to him!
I used to be horrified by birth stories before I got pregnant, because the whole concept of it seemed like a terrible idea! Now that I’m days or weeks (who knows?) from my own birth story, I love to read them because you’re right – every single one is so unique! It gives me some positive energy to feed from when people around me decide to voice their opinions about my birth choices that are less than supportive – i.e., You’re crazy for not getting an epidural, don’t even try it natural! or A water birth can drown your baby!
I know I’m definitely going to write my birth story, if only so that I remember in detail later on when my kids start to get curious.
When I was in labor with our first child, my husband kept a journal (when he could find a moment to write in it). I wasn’t even aware of it at the time. He has details in there that I didn’t even remember the next day. I am so happy he wrote that in that journal. It was very unlike him to do that so I was quite surprised by it but I am now so happy he did that. It includes the events, but most importantly, his feelings, and some funny things he claims I said at the time.
Birth stories scared me even when I was pregnant! I seriously could not watch the TLC shows in the waiting room at the doctor without feeling sick.
I wrote my birth story out for the blog and while I talk about some medical issues, my most vivid (and favorite) memory is my husband announcing that our lil guy had red hair. (I couldn’t see because I had a C-section.) My husband was convinced that he’d be a brunette but I had been hoping for a red head. It was a very happy surprise!
One funny memory was hearing the doctor say, “She’s still a girl!” We had joked the entire pregnancy about how nervous I was that DD was going to turn out to be a boy. Actually, everything still really stands out since she’ll be 2 months old tomorrow. It was a very long labor, and it didn’t go exactly the way I had planned, but I’m still completely happy with the whole experience. The most vivid memory seeing her for the first time, looking at DH & his teary eyes and just being overwhelmed with emotions and so in-the-moment. I have no clue what the doctor & nurses did after I pushed her out.
I don’t have any children, not married, not planning on either (well not dating anyone currently — so not any time in the immediate future). I’m kind of neutral about birth stories. I have read lots of bloggers birth stories but they don’t really affect me. However, I have two sisters and many friends who have children and hearing about their children’s births have always made me cry (happy cry).
I love birth stories too, I could listen to them or read about them all day long!
My most vivid memory of when my daughter was born… she had the brightest blue eyes from the moment she was born! As she was coming out, my OB said ” Welcome to the world bright eyes!” It still brings tears to my eyes (even as I write this), and my daughter loves me to tell her the story. I actually have a picture of her coming out (it’s a gross picture), and I have never shown the picture to anyone (not even her or her dad), but you can see in the picture how blue and beautiful those eyes are.
When my son was born, he was halfway out and my OB said “oh dear, I think he’s too big for you!” um…. ok? What does that mean? Do you push him back in and get him out the other way? Sad that that is what I remember!
With the baby I’m expecting now, I have to have a c-section due to certain issues. It will be a whole new experience, but I can’t wait to meet my little man!
My cousin once asked me the difference between boys and girls, and she says “do boys have regeenas?” and I said no, just girls, and she says “oh right, my cat squeezed kittens out of hers.” I couldnt help but laugh, and that is the closest thing I have to a birth story.. for a long time!
hahaha i love it!
also… here is a website that someone shared with me the other day. Some of the pictures are pretty intense, but also very beautiful.
http://www.dfwbirthphotographer.com/home/
I read some birth stories but most of them were on forums and made me irritated that hospitals treated them as though they had no choice in things. My Husband and I watched “The Business of Being Born” but that was the extent of our research otherwise. I didn’t really read any parenting books either because I felt overwhelmed with too much info. I’ve been winging it, looking up stuff when I need to, and my little girl is now 7 months old sleeps through the night, hasn’t been sick once, and is just generally awesome. I wouldn’t stress too much about anything, it does really come naturally.
And if you’re interested, I have posted two of the three parts of my birth story on my blog. The third will be posted later this week, its got all the fun stuff ;P
I never wrote down my birth stories, but I do remember them all like they were yesterday. They are fairly easy to remember: 1st child was 10 days late and was a 24 hour labor, 2nd child was 10 days late and was a 12 hour labor, 3rd child was 10 days late and was a 6 hour labor.
I think the most vivid memory is holding my first child for the very first time. Priceless. Beautiful. Amazing. Terrifying.
I don’t have kids, and I will admit that birth stories have creeped me out a little in the past. But reading along with so many bloggers who are now pregnant or just gave birth, I’m starting to think it’s more fascinating/less scary.
I remember my son coming out w/ red hair, screaming, legs spread & peeing up into the air onto the midwife. Not all stories are that ‘special.’ 🙂
The book you REALLY need to read is The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy. I have a copy & have since lent it to many of my girlfriends. We all signed the beginning of the book w/ our names, our babies’ names and their birth dates & weights. Now the book is a keepsake of all of my friends from the different AF Bases we’ve lived at!
I love birth stories too! I still read them and my son is 4 months old! You can read his on my blog. It’s long, but I tried to be very detailed. I am still editing it because I wrote it so fast so I would remember everything!
I’m not sure if my site showed up on my post? It’s http://magahasbellybean.blogspot.com
we video recorded our birth story a day or so after our son was born. i wanted to do it quickly because i didn’t want to forget anything, and yet i didn’t want to put my sweet son down even for a moment to write it. it was nice that my husband and i could do it together because we both remembered different things. i went back months later and actually wrote the story out. it is amazing how many details i had forgotten in such a short time. we also tooks pics. we didn’t want them at first, but while i was in labor our midwife’s assistant grabbed our camera and just started shooting away. now they are one of my most sacred possesions. i love to look at them every few months… i am still in awe that our bodies can do that and proud that my body did. my son is almost one now… best year of my life!
I swore up and down and even put on my blog that I wouldnt share my story! Lol, guess what? I did! Haha, mostly because I followed my gut and went to the hospital in very early labor, turned out baby wasn’t moving. I needed an emergency csection because her heart rate dropped. Im so grateful I fillers my instincts. Nurse even told me I would be sent home, but luckily they did a sonogram to see what was up!
*followed! Damn auto correct!
Hahaha…I have that Ina Mays book, and when I got it, I started texting photos of the “hippie” births to my (also pregnant) friend, who has staunchly said from day one that she wants an epidural. I don’t think the photos changed her mind at all 🙂
I like hearing my birth story too– my mom did it naturally, and so every time I hear that, I think, “If she could do it, I can do it!”
I tell birth stories to my daughters on their birthdays. Sometimes the night before too. They kinda know it by heart by now. Once my daughter had an adopted friend sleeping over and we were talking about how different their stories are.
Most memorable about DD1 is – wow, as I’m thinking about what to type I remember it all so it’s hard to say… My husband suddenly being told to wash his hands so he could learn how to pull the baby out himself.
Lucky he did because DD2 came flying out on my 2nd push and the doctor jumped back a bit shocked while my husband caught her!
I have a 3 month old.
Things I remember most:
Laboring 24 hours before getting an epidural
And pushing for 2 hours and 45 minutes!
The entire labor was 33 hours…. NOT something I remember fondly 😉
I loved reading birth stories as soon as I my clock started ticking 😉 It’s also helpful to get an idea about all the different things that happen.
Here’s mine: http://ultralaurenruns.blogspot.com/2010/05/almost-normal-finally.html
And my favorite birth story blog: http://birthwithoutfearblog.com/
Hi Gina! I love how you read books that can be fluffy and some that are informational! I am stuck with the informational ones because of college, but I was wondering if you have a specific list of books you recommend someone reading? I have basically the same interests as you! So anything would do. I just love reading for a great distraction and to get into another world. Thanks girl 🙂
I totally love reading birth stories – especially after experiencing my own. Our little one is now 3 months old. I will say – I 100% did not want the birth on video – just seemed too sacred and I wanted the memory of my experience, but I did give our doula a camera and she snapped about 20 or so shots during labor, pushing and baby girl’s birth. I am so glad we have those pictures. They are truly snapshots of the best moments of my life and I will cherish them forever. I encourage you to have someone taking photos…it seems weird at the time, but SO worth it. I was so “in the zone” of natural childbirth that I barely noticed she had the camera.
I can spare you long boring details about my kids birthdays but for my son, the memory that makes me laugh even now, 10 years later, is my mom holding my leg and making a pushing “noise” with me for every contraction. It was aggravating me b/c she sounded constipated. lol… So in between pushes I yelled at my mom…”Stop pushing with me!” She and I laugh about it now. My mom being there was important. Even as an adult, when I am scared, I still want my mom. I can still see his little face and the feeling I had the moment they put him in my arms.
My daughter (7 months old now) – I ended up with an emergency C section b/c she was breech and my water broke. Morphine made my head feel like it was going to explode. In recovery, when I was finally able to hold her close to my chest…I can’t even explain how content and complete I felt for that moment.
I like to think that when I’m old and senile that those 2 memories will always be the clearest to me. 🙂
I love reading birth stories because some are just so crazy and magical!
The thing I remember most was after the birth, all the pain was MAGICALLY gone! The body is so amazing, and after you’ve pushed your baby out there is no more pain, and just laughter, tears, and joy!! It is such a GREAT feeling! Becoming a parents is so life-changing and it is so wonderful! I can’t wait for you two to experience this! No matter what people tell you, you will not know what mom’s are talking about until you hold your little sweet babe in your arms! The love for this new little life is unbearable!!
Well, I used to be creeped out by watching the stories on TLC but now I love them. I guess it just becomes such a strong part of your life that you feel connected with other families stories. I created a miracle 2 years after being diagnosed with breast cancer .I even had my eggs harvested because I was afraid my eggs would get destroyed by the chemo. Luckily and miraculously they weren’t. My little monkey was breech so I had to schedule a c-section. It was definitely nerve racking but it was truly the best day of my life. He is such a joy and I cant imagine my life without him.
The birth of my first child (almost 6 years ago) is very vivid…like it was just yesterday. It went completely the opposite way from what I had planned. I ended up getting a c-section after 25 hours of labor and my husband was deployed on a 6-monther at the time. The rush of emotion (every type of emotion) is what sticks with me the most…I could be extremely happy one second and sobbing the next. It was crazy.
With my second (3 years ago) I just remember wanting to get home and out of the hospital. I had another c-section and was up and walking in less than 12 hours. I was like, “I’m walking! Can I go home now?” LOL. And my hubby was home for his arrival. 🙂
I don’t have my own story but my best friend delivered her second in her bathtub. THe hospital sent her home after having slight contractions and within 10 min of getting home, she popped out her daughter in the bathtub. It was CRAZY!
I loved reading birth stories when I was pregnant!! But it seemed like a lot of women glossed over some important details. Which is why I wrote my birth story and recovery w/such detail (my daughter was just born Sept 19) I knew I would forget things if I didn’t get it all down!
I loved reading birth stories when I was pregnant too. It certainly helped me be a little more prepared.
I wrote both of my kids’ birth stories and posted them on my blog.
http://aisforbeautiful.blogspot.com/2007/03/360-days-old.html
http://aisforbeautiful.blogspot.com/2009/11/joshuas-birth-story.html
My vivid memory was waking up at 2am feeling odd….only thing I can call it….so I slung my feet over the side of the bed and stood up to feel liquid run down my leg (gross I know but normal) my first thought was that I was peeing….then I realize I didnt have that release feeling. That is when it hit me my water broke. I then calmly (although I was screaming inside, only 35 weeks along, but thats a whole other story)tapped my husband on the shoulder and said ‘honey it’s time’ and he said ‘hhmmmmnrphhmmm’ and I said ‘honey um I really need you to get up’ and he said ‘huh what?’ and I said ‘babe my water broke…we need to get to the hospital’ he then jumped out of bed and started to get dressed 🙂 Men are so cute when they are about to become fathers!
My most vivid memory from the day my daughter was born was the shiny silver giant salad-tong-esque forceps literally ripping me a new one and shattering my tail bone in the process, but safely delivering my baby. It had been 36 hours of labor (3 of those hours were pushing), so I didn’t care how it happened at that point.
Wait…was this supposed to be a magical birth story? 🙂 If you want magic, get the epidural. And pack snacks. For the love of all that’s good, pack snacks or you’ll be stuck with little foil topped containers of apple juice at 3am when you’re starving for food.
Ha ha I agree with Kara about the snacks! I was in labor 24hrs and could not believe that the night I had the baby, no one thought to go get me some food!! The nurses scrounged up some special K and milk, and it tasted sooo good bc I hadn’t had anything to eat in about 18 hours at that point!
I wrote my birth story but for some crazy reason never posted it on my blog. I am going to do it tonight! Come read tomorrow if you want! It’s not too gruesome and was TOTALLY worth it 🙂
i will definitely read it!
My only advice is Do NOT be freaked out when you take a shower for the first time, there is no word to explain how swollen your girlie parts are …no one warned me and I never gave it much thought but it’s a little frightening
oh my dear god. thanks for the heads up!!
yes…NO ONE prepared me for that!!! I was like….. “IS THAT NORMAL!!!?????” Everyone’s afraid of freaking you out with these stories but I wish I was prepared!!
if you girls think of anything else like that i should know, please spill!
I LOVE the story of how I was born. Growing up, my Dad would come into my room every year the night before my birthday and lay with me and tell me the story. When I went to University, he emailed it to me the day of my birthday…which was amazing, I had really missed our yearly ritual. I know the story by heart and will celebrate my 28th birthday in a few weeks and look forward to hearing or having the story sent to me. It’s not magical, and mine was not an easy birth for my poor Mom, but there is so much love in the day your baby is born.
Hope you have a great story to tell your little girl. xo
I don’t have kids and they do sort of creep me out- especially when you know the person and accidentally fall into reading about their lady parts (and the painful things that happen to them). On the other hand, it’s awesome birth control.
I love birth stories!! Mine is actually pretty funny. I was four weeks early, and just the night before a random stranger came up and asked my mom if she was due that week. My dad was an air traffic controller, and he had already gone to work by the time my mom’s water broke. She had to call his office (no cells) and when he got there, someone met him in the parking lot and told him to go home. Of course, he didn’t realize I would be born that day and, according to my mom, wasn’t exactly speedy. Then, when they got to the hospital, the doctor gave my mom too much epidural and she was knocked out. Anyway, I was born tiny, early, but all right!! 😀
My mom waited to find out the sex of all three of her children (my two brothers and I). When She was pregnant with me, she was so desperate for a little girl. She felt like she was going to have a little girl the whole pregnancy. As they delivered me, they yelled, “It’s Breech!” She was on some “baby drugs” and she could’ve sworn they said, “It’s a boy!”
They turned me around and put me in her arms in a pink blanket. My dad says all you could hear were muddled sobs/screams from my mother stating…”There are no boy parts!!!!!!!!…that’s a girl!!!!!!!!!!” hehe 🙂 I love my birth story. Matches my personality perfectly 🙂
My son’s birth went a lot more smoothly than I’d thought it would. I was really freaked out in the days prior, ’cause we had JUST moved, I’d only been to the hospital where I’d give birth once, and I had no idea who was going to deliver my baby. But all in all, it was so incredibly sweet and memorable. Three things that stand out:
1) It was not hard, at all. Everyone had told me that labor is so tough, but seriously I didn’t do anything during my 20-hour long labor except try to relax during the contractions. And while pushing was not easy, it wasn’t that difficult either. It’s amazing how natural everything is – that baby is coming out no matter what!
2). It hurt a lot! I guess I should have been more prepared for the pain, but as an endurance athlete I smugly thought that this couldn’t hurt much more than the crazy races I’ve done. Um, WRONG. It hurt like hell, but I was in a calm, professional environment with my hubby, so I didn’t panic. It’s totally bearable, as long as you focus on the end result. Pain for a couple hours is nothing compared to the lifelong joy that a child brings!
3) Giving birth was so incredible special. I was so, so happy and excited during labor, and even while I was pushing, I couldn’t stop smiling! I swear I’m not a psychopath or a masochist, but I was thrilled to be finally giving birth and wasn’t worried about anything. I always knew I’d be happy to meet my first child, but I was over-the-top giddy during the whole process. Maybe it was the lack of sleep? lol
I read birth stories like it was my job when I was pregnant. And nursing stories. I read them both and loved them. The good, the bad, the unexpected…all were teaching moments and helpful and I loved them.
Did I write out my birth story. No. I wish I had but I do remember the details in extreme detail. The look on Scott’s face when Skylar was crowning, the first time she latched and nursed, telling my birth team I was ready to push and they were like but we just checked you and you werent there just an hour ago…and I was like well I’m there now…they checked me reluctantly and oh yeah, pushing time. And 40 mins later, she was out 🙂
I don’t have any childbirth stories to talk about yet, but my mom reminds me of when she had me everytime my birthday rolls around. 6AM on a sleet-y, cold March morning and she starts to have contractions. My dad had to drive them from southern NH to Beverly, MA in the sleet and snow and people are skidding off the road! (My mom’s exaggerations of course). My birth, I guess went pretty normal except that the contractions were tough on me and I wasn’t coming out as easily as they had hoped and ended up having to force me out.
And, I was the only child NOT crying after birth. All the other babies were being brought to their mom’s because they were crying to be fed. I was the last one because I was sound asleep. They even had to tickle my foot to get the baby picture taken.
I don’t have kids yet and I enjoy reading birth stories! Childbirth is such a miracle and I think it shows just how strong women really are. Amazing 🙂
Gina, you think you love The Pilot now, just wait until you see him hold your daughter in his arms for the first time and see the way he looks at her. I promise that your love for him will quadruple. That’s one of my memories 🙂
Before Ella was born I was obsessed with that show on TL {I think??] not a baby story but there was one about the actual birth in a women’s birthing center. The stories would contrast from women dead set on natural birth, the showers, midwives and doulas to women that went with intervention. I loved seeing all the different experiences!
I wrote my birth story out and re-read it all the time. I even have a few details I forgot to include and keep forgetting to update them.
MOST vivid memory….hmmm…well I agree with Lyndsay above about seeing your husband hold your daughter for the first time. But more than anything seeing her for the first time. The room was so quiet the moment she came out. Michael and I were in awe…and she wasn’t crying yet and I was terrified at first. My doctor was re assuring me that we all expect babies to cry like in the movies but it was fine…then finally hearing it and seeing the look on my husbands face when he went over to see her….she was screaming so much once she finally got started. Then, they brought her to me and the second I held her she looked in my eyes like she knew and stopped crying. It was incredible.
I used to be OBSESSED with “A Baby Story,” which was a show on TLC that showed women having their babies. I don’t know why it interested me so much, but it did! I know it seem so strange that the baby will have to come out one day. I am with you on thinking that is weird!
My birth story is horrible, but I have it all documented for my daughter. She will know every detail of her 16 week premature birth, the 3″ scar from her open heart surgery, the bump behind her ear where they put the shunt in her brain, the pinch marks on her chest from the tubes they inserted after her lungs collapsed and the twin sister that she lost after 2 days in the NICU.
I still get very emotional about birth stories. Good ones make me long for the happy delivery day that I didn’t get, and sad/scary ones bring back a rush of emotions about how I felt when it was happening to me. Sometimes it’s hard not to look back angrily at how things turned out and picture my life the way we thought it was supposed to be, but my surviving daughter makes it hard to spend too much time focusing on the negative. She is definitely a huge miracle in tiny little body!
highly recommend the podcast – on itunes – called pregtastic. they have birth stories and pregnancy advice. so good and helpful – not scary.