The Way You Speak About Birth Matters

A big part of preparing for birth is how we speak about it. 

There is no “I had to be induced” (really, there’s no way. It’s always your decision) instead you can say, “I decided to be induced.” 

Do you see how different those sentences are? 

Why does it matter? Because you being in charge of your own birth is one of the things that bring feelings of empowerment. 

You don’t feel empowered just by having a natural birth, or doing it with no pain meds, or at home, or anything like that. 

What creates an empowering birth experience? Support + feeling in control of your experience. 

Really, there is a study that shows this!! In the study they went back to moms 15-20 years after they had given birth and asked about the experience. The ones who described their births as positive (even when someone else may look at the birth story from the outside and describe the experience as traumatic)  were the ones who felt supported and in control. 

Your language around birth matters. It really does. So next time you start saying “my doctor said I had to '' remember, YOU are the one in charge of your birth- and choose some different words. 

I am so passionate about helping women to have an empowering experience because birth is so beautiful and you deserve to feel supported and empowered as you begin new motherhood! Reach out to me about my doula services or one on one prenatal meetings!