Birth stories

Our birth stories are powerful.

Growing up, every year without fail, the night before my birthday, my mum would tell me the same story; how it all began, the evening before I was born. Only recently did I realise that what she has been giving me all these years is her own birth story. A story retold, remembered, and passed down. What a gift.

Without consciously meaning to, I now find myself doing the same with both of my children. Each year, the night before their birthday, we return to the story of their births; how it started, how it felt, what we remember.

Even though their births were so very different, they each deserve their own space and story to be held.

Here you’ll find a collection of real birth stories - shared generously by those who have lived them - reflecting a wide range of experiences, choices and events. These are not stories of “perfect” births, but honest accounts of people feeling supported, informed, respected, and heard.

Home births, hospital births, caesarean births, inductions, fast labours, long labours - all are welcome here. What connects these stories is not how birth unfolded, but how it was experienced.

Take what you need, leave what you don’t. Happy reading.