Birth

Birth Stories

Giving birth is a profound and transformative moment in a person’s life. We want you to feel ready and knowledgeable for your labor and baby’s debut! Here you can explore expert advice on topics like vaginal unmedicated and medicated births, C-section births, home births, birth center births, and adoption. Read inspiring birth stories, helpful tips, and essential product recommendations that can support you through this life-changing journey.

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Mother with her newborn baby girl in the hospital.

25 Birth Affirmations To Help You Through Your Labor

Here are some benefits of birth affirmations, how to use them effectively, and 25 birth affirmations to try.

Premature newborn baby girl in the hospital incubator after c-section in 33 week

Preterm Birth: What Is It and What Are the Risks?

Learn about preterm birth and what can cause it, the unexpected experience of premature labor, and premature babies.

What is Vernix and Why is it All Over My Newborn?

What Is Vernix and Why Is It All Over My Newborn?

Learn about what vernix caseosa is, what benefits it has for your newborn, and what you need to know about this bodily fluid during birth.

Toy blocks that spell Doula

What Is a Doula? What They Do and the Benefits of Having One

Hiring a doula during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum has many benefits. A doula answers the most common questions about doula care.

Profile view of a multiracial woman wearing a hospital gown standing in her hospital room while affectionately holding and lovingly admiring her newborn baby as he sleeps.

14 Things I Wish I Knew Before My Labor Experience

A nurse midwife shares things about the labor experience that women wish they knew, like what pushing is like and different labor positions.

Premature newborn baby girl in the hospital incubator after c-section in 33 week

Preterm Birth: What Is It and What Are the Risks?

Learn about preterm birth and what can cause it, the unexpected experience of premature labor, and premature babies.

Woman’s foot in stirrups as she sits on an exam table waiting to be seen by her doctor in the doctor’s office for a cervical check.
Trending

What the Numbers Mean When You Get a Cervical Check

It's important to understand what effacement, dilation and station mean during a cervical check. Learn more here.

Mother with her newborn baby girl in the hospital.

25 Birth Affirmations To Help You Through Your Labor

Here are some benefits of birth affirmations, how to use them effectively, and 25 birth affirmations to try.

Baby being born via Cesarean Section coming out
Trending

Emergency C-Sections: When Things Don’t Go as Planned

After her long labor, one woman managed to avoid an emergency C-section. Learn how and what to do - from her personal experience.

What to Wear at a Hospital Birth

What To Wear at a Hospital Birth

There are a lot of options for what to wear at a hospital birth. We're sharing the top birthing gowns, labor and delivery gowns, and more.

A Week-By-Week Guide to C-Section Recovery
Trending

A Week-By-Week Guide to C-Section Recovery

A week-by-week guide to C-section recovery to help you better take care of yourself and support your tissues in their healing.

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More from Birth

Hilary Duff in a birthing poll holding her newborn and showing her family after giving birth.

15 Celebrities Who Had Home Births

Every woman deserves support in whatever way they choose for their birthing journey. Here are 15 celebrities who had successful home births.

A beautiful and relaxed ethnic mother is snuggling her newborn and affectionately holding her in the hospital after delivery.

It’s Okay to Mourn Your Birth Plan

Creating a birth plan is important, but sometimes birth doesn't go the way you expect. Here is why it is okay to mourn your birth plan.

Experiencing Premature Birth…Twice: One Mom’s Story

Experiencing premature birth can be difficult. Experiencing it twice is heart-wrenching. Here, one mom shares her story of premature births.

Young woman patient lying at hospital bed feeling sad and depressed worried.
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Birth Trauma and How to Overcome a Difficult Birthing Experience – Podcast Ep 76

We're chatting with psychologist Teela Tomassetti about birth trauma and how to overcome a difficult birthing experience. Here's what to know.

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Our Home Birth Story: Lily Belle

We had a home birth with our firstborn, but our second baby's birth was intense! Here's our home birth story with our daughter, Lily Belle.

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What to Expect During Labor and a Vaginal Birth – Podcast Ep 55

We've covered what to expect during each trimester and now we are sharing our birth stories & what to expect during labor & a vaginal birth.

Mother embracing her baby girl while leaning back and resting.

What is Birth Trauma? And How to Move Forward

Nearly a quarter of all pregnant moms experience birth trauma. What is it? How do you move forward? One mom shares her story.

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I Had a Baby During the Covid Pandemic

Worrying about having a baby during the Covid pandemic is only natural. Stephanie Teitelbaum experienced it first hand. Here's her story.

Why is This Taking So Long? When Labor Stalls Out

Why is This Taking So Long? When Labor Stalls Out

Here is the story of how one mom's labor stalled and ways you can be better prepared to not be in the same boat.

10 Things No One Tells You About Having a C-Section

10 Things No One Tells You About Having a C-Section

In the spirit of keeping it real, I’m going to tell you what I wish someone had told me before having a c-section.

My Journey to Motherhood

Journey to Motherhood: My First Pregnancy and Birth

Every woman's journey to motherhood is beautiful and unique. Here, one woman shares the story of how she became a mother for the first time.

Birth Hypnosis - Does it Really Lessen the Pain?

Birth Hypnosis – Does it Really Lessen the Pain?

Two moms share their birth hypnosis experiences with Hypnobabies, explain how it works, and why they will never have another baby without it!

5 Things That Helped Me Through My Unexpected C-Section

5 Things That Helped Me Through My Unexpected C-Section

When your birth plan goes awry, it can be scary. A mom shares 5 tips she learned from her experience of having an unexpected c-section.

Why I Chose to Give Birth at a Birth Center

Why I Chose to Give Birth at a Birth Center

Choose freedom when it comes to your birth experience. With a birth center, you can get the low-risk birth you're dreaming of.

Our Birth Story: How I Became a Mother

Our Birth Story: How I Became a Mother

My due date had come and gone. Then at 41 weeks, the contractions came. I was going to become a mother. Here's our son's birth story.

My Unplanned, Unassisted, Home Birth

My Unplanned, Unassisted, Home Birth Story

I got out of the tub and screamed "the baby is coming!" A mom shares her unplanned, unassisted, home birth story!

A Birth Story: Fischer’s BIRTHday

Stories of labor and delivery are always a favorite here! Contributor Lanie shares the heartwarming story of the birth of her first son.

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I Remember, This is Love: A Birth Story By Sarah Ring

A touching birth story of how Sarah first became a mother.