Why Every Birth Story Is Unique And Beautiful

Inspiring Stories for Moms-to-Be | Real moms share their intimate birth stories Share in the beauty and wonder of the birth experience with this touching collection of true stories from 60 real moms, describing in their own words how their newborns came into the world. Their intimate recollections capture the remarkable range of birth experiences and remind us of the extraordinary bond that forms from this moment on. A great shower gift or self-purchase for expectant mothers that shares the amazing childbirth experience. Beautifully packaged to reflect the warmth, wonder, and mystery of the childbirth experience, The Day My Baby Was Born presents true stories from a wide variety of women about the different ways their child came into the world and the incredible bond this moment forms among all mothers.The Day My Baby Was Born gives moms-to-be a full sense of what to expect, through real stories from real people - the voices of friends, sisters, neighbors, and others sharing their own thoughts on the incredible moment. Featuring these stories: Birthing Iris: a slight deviation from the plan (Meredith Davis) Longer second labor, drug free (Laura Hubacek) Easy pregnancy and easy labor (Missy Bowen) My second baby was more difficult than my first (Allison McGee) Baby born on due date (Ally Channing) First baby born at home (Nancy Hatcher) The birth of my baby Carson (Brenda Allen) Our big surprise! (Trina Hollander) Jakson's birth story (Cristina Ramirez) Fast labor (Sara Hankes) Hurry up, Doc! (Harmony T) Extremely easy first delivery (Paige Nelson) My second birth just as wonderful as the first (Rachel R) A different water birth than expected (Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt) The birth of my angel Kylee Faith (Stephanie Wiseman) Thirty-two-week preemie after bed rest (Marsha Hammond) Too easy to be a first (Toni Williams) C-section wasn't as bad as I expected (Vickie Freeman) A not-so-scary birth story (Rebecca K) Miss Ashely's arrival (Carrie Herbst) Fast and furious first baby (Beth Johanson) My angel Madison (Candice Pesotini) Third time's the charm (Ann Larson) No progress results in Cesarean (Michelle Schroeder) My baby boy...easy birth and easy baby (Hope Lehmann) Jade's birth story (Sara A) Water birth was perfect (Kim Goodspeed) Pregnancy-induced hypertension with first (Shelly Evans) Baby Bre's story (Jennine Mustard) Intense back labor with no epidural (Katherine Harris) Difficult pregnancy but completely worth it (Anneli Nilsson) First baby born at thirty-six weeks, but so easy! (Lynda Lipske) That can't be right! (Kathy Colbern) Twin girls and a bonus (Liz Adams) Four weeks early and long labor (Brenda Erickson) I did it my way but almost didn't makee it (Melissa W) Baby girl born early (Stephanie Williamson) Quick for a first-time mom (Ilona Pope) Suzaan, our mircle (Martie van Biljon) My sweet (big) baby girl (Allie McDonaldson) Great expectations run amok (Rachel Karlsen) Sunny-side up, baby Braxton (Autumn Fagan) Easy as 1-2-3 (Emily O'Reilly) The longest labor but well worth it (Cara Martin) My drug-free birth (Sheldene Wade) Come on, baby! (Lindsay A.E.) Fintan's birth story (Jessica Aldridge) Seven days late with 7 pound, 7 ounce girl (Lisa Patterson) Speedy first labor and delivery (Robyn Cassidy) Eyes wide open (Erika Starman) Seven-hour labor, one week late and all natural (Darlene Fulton) Overdue water birth at home (Kerri Connell) Long labor but easy delivery (Bonnie Wenzel) An unexpected delivery at home (Kris Krynicki) I loved my fast and easy delivery with Pitocin (Allison McGreger) Night of the full moon (Aimee Wimbush-Bourque) Lamaze teacher gives birth (Christine Hughes) The grand entrance of the second man in my life (Jennie C)

Though one in four pregnancies ends in loss, miscarriage is shrouded in such secrecy and stigma that the woman who experiences it often feels deeply isolated, unsure how to process her grief. Her body seems to have betrayed her. Her confidence in the goodness of God is rattled. Her loved ones don't know what to say. Her heart is broken. She may feel guilty, ashamed, angry, depressed, confused, or alone. With vulnerability and tenderness, Adriel Booker shares her own experience of three consecutive miscarriages, as well as the stories of others. She tackles complex questions about faith and suffering with sensitivity and clarity, inviting women to a place of grace, honesty, and hope in the redemptive purposes of God without offering religious clichés and pat answers. She also shares specific, practical resources, such as ways to help guide children through grief, suggestions for memorializing your baby, and advice on pregnancy after loss, as well as a special section for dads and loved ones.

In this intimate perspective on birth, renowned author and photographer Suzanne Arms conveys the inherent wisdom in this natural process, through her eloquent words and pictures. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Thirty acclaimed writers share their personal birth stories—the extraordinary, the ordinary, the terrifying, the sublime, the profane It's an elemental, almost animalistic urge—the expectant mother's hunger for birth narratives. Bookstores are filled with month-by-month pregnancy manuals, but the shelves are virtually empty of artful, entertaining, unvarnished accounts of labor and delivery—the stories that new mothers need most. Here is a book that transcends the limits of how-to guides and honors the act of childbirth in the twenty-first century. Eleanor Henderson and Anna Solomon have gathered true birth stories by women who have made self-expression their business, including Cheryl Strayed, Julia Glass, Lauren Groff, Dani Shapiro, and many other luminaries. In Labor Day, you'll read about women determined to give birth naturally and others begging for epidurals; women who pushed for hours and women whose labors were over practically before they'd started; women giving birth to twins and to ten-pound babies. These women give birth in the hospital, at home, in bathtubs, and, yes, even in the car. Some revel in labor, some fear labor, some feel defeated by labor, some are fulfilled by it—and all are amazed by it. You will laugh, weep, squirm, perhaps groan in recognition, and undoubtedly gasp with surprise. And then you'll call every mother or mother-to-be that you know and say "You MUST read Labor Day." Contributors: Nuar Alsadir Amy Brill Susan Burton Sarah Shun-lien Bynum Lan Samantha Chang Phoebe Damrosch Claire Dederer Jennifer Gilmore Julia Glass Arielle Greenberg Lauren Groff Eleanor Henderson Cristina Henriquez Amy Herzog Ann Hood Sarah Jefferis Heidi Julavits Mary Beth Keane Marie Myung-Ok Lee Edan Lepucki Heidi Pitlor Joanna Rakoff Jane Roper Danzy Senna Dani Shapiro Anna Solomon Cheryl Strayed Sarah A. Strickley Rachel Jamison Webster Gina Zucker

Psychologist and birth trauma expert Maureen Campion shares her lessons for releasing the unexpected wounds that come from having a rough birth experience. Birth can be beautiful and spiritual and joyous but there are also terrifying, emotionally raw, painful moments that can be difficult to move past. This book offers you a chance to experience the healing power of working through your birth story, while learning about trauma and developing coping skills for all those complicated feelings. Maureen Campion shares her personal experience with birth trauma and the work she has been doing working with mothers through workshops and counseling to address resolving unexpected birth outcomes. Heal Your Birth Story offers new understanding to the impact of birth on mothers and their partners. Journaling exercises are offered to lead the reader through multiple layers of understanding and healing.

Many women are taking back their right to choose the kind of birth they desire, realizing that many birth interventions have adverse effects on mother and baby. In this book, the author presents a different choice - one without medical interventions. What is it like to have a natural birth and what are the benefits? Author Natasha Panzer has pulled together birth stories from a variety of moms who decided to give birth naturally. The book covers: Birthing in a birth center Preparing for natural birth Natural birth in the hospital Natural vaginal birth after cesarean Home births Unexpected home delivery The birth stories are sweet and inspiring. As you read this book, you will feel like you are right there with the mom delivering that baby, feeling the triumph the mom feels after delivering her baby naturally, and experiencing the parents' joy as they welcome their newborn to this world! The stories show that natural birth is possible in a myriad of settings, even in hospitals. "If you are looking for confidence-building birth stories and some good tips for getting through labor, you'll enjoy reading Spontaneous Joyful Natural Birth!" Ina May Gaskin, author of Birth Matters: A Midwife's Manifesta and Ina May's Guide to Childbirth"

Stop listening to the horror stories. Be reassured, excited and inspired. Find out how beautiful and powerful birth can be. Discover the keys to planning your own positive birth - the best beginning to motherhood. Birth Journeys is a diverse collection of 29 encouraging and inspiring birth stories by real women (and men). It includes a wide range of birth experiences and choices: hospital, birth center, homebirth, unassisted birth, water birth, IVF, caesarean, VBAC and twins. Some stories are warm and lighthearted, some are serene and peaceful, while others are a wild whirlwind experience. Each story is positive, uplifting and empowering. Birth Journeys also contains contributions from health care professionals, academics, birth educators and authors including Dr Sarah J Buckley, GP and author of Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering; Hannah Dahlen, Associate Professor of Midwifery at the University of Western Sydney; Renee Adair, founder and principal educator of the Australian Doula College; Jane Hardwicke Collings, founder of the School of Shamanic Midwifery; and David Vernon, editor of Men at Birth.