In the Journal of Perinatal Education, Emily Drake tells us 'The purpose of publishing stories is threefold: to preserve culture, to document knowledge, and to stimulate change .' 'Stories make us challenge our old ways of thinking and look critically at our traditional practices. Stories can provide a vision of what is past and what is possible. '
With local c/s rates that hover around 50% and a birth culture that has normalized assault, isn't it time that we consider what is possible?
Embrace red tent living. We are here to support each other. It is our duty to share story in order to protect the births of our grandchildren.
'It lets us know we aren't alone in our birth experiences (good or bad). I love to read other's birth stories because it lets you see a different side of people. Birth is an amazing experience and for someone to be willing to share that story with me means a lot.' says Lucrecia Mouser a local VBAC mom and former breastfeeding peer counselor.
Sometimes, the side of them you are seeing is naked. Birth is raw.
Erin Bailey, a VBAC mom and former ICAN leader says , 'Sharing my birth stories and listening to others, especially who had similar experiences, helped me validate my feelings, understand them and move forward. '
La Leche League leader Meghan MacInnis says, 'When births don't go as planned, birth stories give moms a way to grieve the "perfect birth they lost". It also gives moms hoping for something a realistic look at what happens "once the water breaks".'
Birth experiences vary widely. Sometimes it's beauty. Living art . Sometimes it's trauma. Always, it is sacred.
'I love that sharing birth stories shows women variations of normal, an educational aspect I feel is crucial to a woman having realistic expectations from her birth experiences.' adds Erin.
Where should we share? Wherever women are gathered! By sharing stories of birth, we are changing the culture one stifled attitude at a time. If we wait for an invitation to tell the story, we're missing an opportunity to promote change. Often, the souls who need the change the most are the least likely to offer you the floor.
'For me sharing the story of my daughter's birth gives me the chance to let people know that even an unexpected & scary experience still has beauty. Sharing the birth stories of my sons lets me share that EVERY birth is different and beautiful in its own way. Sometimes it's a little harder to find the joy in a birth that didn't go as planned but it is there. My daughter's birth was an unexpected emergency c-section and she spent a month in NICU. Now I can see the beauty and know that God had a bigger plan for us when we were going through that experience. I was able to use that experience when I was a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor. Letting other moms know that I had been there too and giving them a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen. The same goes for the miscarriage I experienced. I never knew there were so many people out there carrying the same pain. As women I feel we need to share these experiences and let others know we've been there and each moment in life has beauty to celebrate.' Lucrecia Mouser
Sharing beautiful stories normalizes physiological birth. It promotes better outcomes. It saves lives and aids breastfeeding. Sharing traumatic stories saves lives on another level. No matter where your story falls, it demands to be shared. Loud, proud and with pictures. If that means putting naked on the table or accidentally exposing a nipple, so be it. I'll take that hit. My nipple lost its sanctity long ago somewhere among the swim suit ads.
*Links to your stories welcomed as comments*
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