WOMEN SHARE SURPRISING THOUGHTS ABOUT THEIR BIRTHS

Originally Shared 3/13/15

Many women go into childbirth thinking it’s cut and dry. You go to the hospital. You have a baby. Usually, though, women are taken aback by the happy, sad, good, bad, ugly or surprising things that happen with they give birth.

I thought I was just going to the hospital to have a baby, BUT 

“I had a toddler! Nothing like hearing your doctor say "Whoa that's a big baby!" And then apologizing to you for not believing you when you said you were having a hard time walking!! I'm pretty sure you know how AMAZING my nurse was. Praise the Lord she could see past the "nothing to eat or drink" and snuck me some grape juice!!! She made my whole day better. I'm sure there were hard times that day, but I honestly can't remember any and I spent most of the time laughing and kidding around. Seriously who laughs out a nearly 10 pound baby!?!” Lex

“I found strength I never thought I had and pride in myself and my baby boy for pulling through a natural birth I really wanted but didn't know if I was strong enough to follow through with!” Joann

"I didn't realize it would be so hard to try to answer all the intake questions during transition. My doula really helped me balance staying in birth zone while I was providing my medical history to the nurse." Hailie

“I didn't know that he would be sick, and I had no idea that I took having a healthy baby for granted. His short 27 month life has taught me more than my 27 year life.” Meagan

“I decided I would get more of the natural experience I was looking for in an out of hospital setting.” Birth Boot Camp Instructor, Melissa Meyer

“I told my husband about 15 seconds after having our second that I knew a third was in our future. The nurse said "You know you JUST gave birth right?!" Jessica

“Once we got there, we were treated like we were idiots for having attempted a home birth. They insulted us, ridiculed our decisions, I was threatened with a c-section and pitocin.” Claudia

“I had a life and career changing experience.” Birth Boot Camp Instructor, Bekah Smith

“I got a shot of Stadol and started seeing lemons and thought they were attacking me.” Ashtin

"My empowering birth gave me the desire to become a doula." Kristi

"The experience was filled with fear, a time table, and unwarranted advice even though I had the support of a doula and a healthy 9 lb 5 oz beautiful baby girl. The stress and pressure for procedures and drugs were not necessary and will not be returning to a hospital for my 2nd child." Anonymous

“My night nurse! I'd have to look at our records to find her name. She was the oldest nurse I had. So kind and experienced. Every other nurse just walked in without a word and started poking me and had no interest in me. She always asked how breastfeeding was going and warned me before checking my uterus. I had had a cesarean.” Danielle

“I wound up in a battle of wits with a nitwit doctor. And the nurses forgot about us.” Bridget

“I left an empowered woman. Having my first baby naturally completely transformed my life.” Birth Boot Camp Instructor, Kristi Keen

“Instead, I encountered God in a new way. Seeing my baby girl and feeling that instant love that is so pure and beautiful and without end really put into perspective for me the love of God. He loves me even more than I love Quinn and to know that is so incredible. What rest and joy I feel in this new place with HIM!” Britain

“My OB ruined my body because she didn't want to do her job.” Desiree

“I had an amazing baby nurse with my youngest. She was older than I think all of the other nurses but she was so encouraging on me trying to breastfeed, and she even wrapped my baby to my chest so we could spend time skin to skin without me being panicked about falling asleep. She prayed over my baby and just was SO pleasant and nurturing.” Jessica

“Remembered they treat MRSA and Ebola and stayed home.” Birth Boot Camp Instructor, Ashlea Bruno

“My birthing nurse was phenomenal! She helped me get through my contractions and let me listen to my body and do what I thought I needed to get baby out! My husband came home from deployment two days before baby was born, so he was so out of the loop and had no idea what to do for me but stand by my side. She spoke encouraging words to me and used counter pressure to help with the pain, she was more like a Doula than a nurse!!!” Joann

“My doc said "this is what the epidural is for" when I was getting my stitches! I wanted to kick her in the face! I was amazed at how helpful my nurse was to get Aaron nursing. If I could find her I would thank her over and over because she made it possible, and then my other breastfeeding experiences with my other kids were amazing.” Whitney

“I didn't know I would barely make it and my husband would "catch" her in the lobby of the ER!” McKay

“When the Nurse Practitioner told me they didn't like working with doulas, I realized it was going to be "their way or the highway" so that's when I chose a home birth!” Emily

“I ended up finding a strength I didn't know I had.” Birth Boot Camp Instructor, D’Andra Parsons

“It happened 5 1/2 weeks early. I didn't realize I was in labor because I didn't have the "typical symptoms" and sure didn't want to be the patient the hospital birth class termed "crazies who come in 5 times not really in labor.” Sarah

“I was physically assaulted by a nurse and spent the next 24 hours faking a smile so I could get out of there as quickly as possible without having the medical staff call CPS on me for taking my baby home AMA.” Taleena

“I had an 11 lb baby. Vaginally. Easier than my first two. Haha. Surprises! But I didn't realize how much they would push formula to a "breastfeeding mother.” Tandalyn

“I knew as soon as they handed me Zarek that I wanted another baby.” Melissa

“I started to research and found out that I had options, and that the hospital wasn't necessarily the safest. I wanted to avoid interventions, and knew I didn't want to fight hospital protocols, so I chose a birth center. I'm so glad that I did!” Birth Boot Camp Instructor, Dani Satchwell

“I experienced a miracle. Childbirth is an awe filled, amazing, indescribable experience. I had no idea what I was capable of, and didn't understand how it would feel to hold that new life on my chest. God made childbirth a miraculous experience, and His Word became more alive to me through the struggle to bring the baby into the world.” Amanda

Thank you to all the moms who contributed their reflections about their birth experiences! You help change birth for the better!

Did birth change you as a person? How did it influence your beliefs about birth or motherhood?

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