Rewriting The Narrative: Three Women Tell Their Positive Birth Stories
There’s no exact formula for creating a positive birth experience. It can happen anywhere and by any method. The way we birth our babies is oftentimes less a deciding factor in whether we will perceive it as positive than if we felt in control of the process as it unfolded. If we felt supported rather than coerced, empowered instead of frightened.
Even if our birth preferences change during labor, a hospital transfer happens, or complications suddenly arise, these things don’t inherently make our experiences negative. If a woman can go with the flow of labor and understands that birth is unpredictable, she’s more able to accept the birth she has as ultimately positive. Preparation increases our chances of having the birth we desire but deviation from those preferences should never be seen as a personal failure.