9 Comments

Oofff, Grace, I relate to this! Feelings of birth-failure are really the shadow side of all this positive birth stuff. If I could have taken just one thing away from my (admittedly hypnobirthing informed) birth prep, it would be repeating to myself: 'birth is birth however it happens.' Helped me get through all the interventions I ended up needing to make sure baby arrived safely. Keep your courage!

Expand full comment

It's so hard to get the balance right with this stuff! I do think there are helpful aspects to hypnobirthing, but also felt crushed by how unable I was to utilise them. Hope you are doing ok with your little one x

Expand full comment

Praying for you as you approach this second birth! Birth is such a divisive topic (what isn’t when it comes to women?!) and so I rarely talk about my four births. Thank you for this.

Expand full comment

I can only imagine what wisdom you must have to impart! Thanks Jayne x

Expand full comment

Grace, wishing you all the best for #2 - for every woman who tells the truth, another of us is strengthened. Look forward to saying hello IRL one day. Laline x

Expand full comment

Yes. I have 4 kids, the first Born in 2011, the youngest in 2022. I am pro homebirth and very much for giving Power to the people who are giving birth. But the pressure to optimize birth, to enjoy it, love it, really, to plan it out and follow the plan is sickening to me. It is not empowering In any sense but just Puts Stress and expectations on people in unpredictable Situations. Sorry. It makes me so angry. Good luck to you!

Expand full comment

Grace, I felt the same way about pregnancy, for me it was a necessary process I had to go through to have my children. The only thing about it I liked was not having to worry about my changing body shape! 😆 Of course, I still had to worry about what food I put into my body, but for different reasons. I hope you have a beautiful birth, in whatever way suits you, but as you have described, it is often out of our control. The most important, and most 'positive', outcome is a healthy happy baby and mother. 💕

Expand full comment

Oh that's so encouraging to hear Ali. Thank you for your encouragement. I'm just counting down the days now :) (Still several weeks left)

Expand full comment

They will pass so quickly... all the best to you!

Expand full comment