Birth stories are sacred, personal narratives that hold pieces of ourselves

They hold our strength, our vulnerability, and the raw moments of transformation. Every woman’s birth experience is unique, and even the most difficult, traumatic stories carry important truths.

Far too often, traumatic births are swept under the rug, or minimized in favour of maintaining a “positive” or “perfect” image of motherhood. At the same time, many mothers who share their traumatic birth stories are met with responses like, “at least you have a healthy baby,” as if that should be enough to erase the pain and distress they experienced.

Society often sends the message that mothers should be grateful for their healthy child and keep quiet about the hardships of their birth, as if acknowledging the trauma somehow diminishes their joy. This well-meaning but dismissive response invalidates the mother’s experience, making her feel guilty for having emotions that aren’t perfectly aligned with the “happy, healthy baby” narrative.

But the truth is, sharing traumatic birth stories is not harmful; it is healing. When mothers speak about their struggles, they allow themselves the space to process and grieve, to seek support from others who understand, and to reclaim their own experience. Acknowledging the pain of birth doesn’t take away from the joy of a healthy child—it validates the mother’s journey, affirms her strength, and provides the opportunity for both healing and connection. Instead of brushing trauma aside, we need to create a culture where mothers’ experiences are heard and respected, recognizing that their emotional well-being matters just as much as the health of their child.

Sharing My Birth Story

My goal in sharing this deeply personal experience is twofold. First, I want other mothers to know they are not alone. Your story matters. You matter. No matter how your birth unfolded—whether it was calm, chaotic, beautiful, or traumatic—your experience is valid. And with the right support, healing is possible.

Second, I want to highlight the importance of reconnecting with your inner voice. As mothers, we’re often told to trust our intuition—but that can be incredibly difficult when anxiety is present. Fear of overreacting, of being wrong, or of being dismissed can easily drown out that inner knowing. Anxiety can mimic intuition, making it hard to tell the difference.

My hope is to help others learn how to recognize their inner voice beneath the noise of anxiety, and to trust it. To feel empowered to speak up, to advocate for themselves, and to know that when something doesn’t feel right, that feeling is worth listening to.

In my birth story, you’ll see how I shut down my own instincts—the quiet voice inside telling me something was wrong. It’s a reminder of how easily we can silence ourselves, and how vital it is to tune in, especially when the stakes are high.