Birth stories have a lasting impact on expectant mothers. The purpose of sharing birth stories, is to recognize the influence of birth stories as a key component of informal communication of knowledge about childbirth for expectant mothers. Without exception, knowledge of childbirth has been a persistent measure of a feminine, woman-to-woman legacy. For most expectant mothers, this traditional communication has been an influential, primary way to learn about giving birth. This unique art of storytelling illuminates the specialness, subtlety, and emotional components of birthing. When positive birth stories are shared, special messages are conveyed that describe the courage and power of women as birth givers, the integrity of the birth process, and the sanctity of the family; thus, the beauty and delicacy of the maternal newborn interactions are conveyed. These stories have the potential to change the beliefs of those who become vicarious learners. Stories of birth that mothers tell their daughters have been altered by years of a medically managed system. As a result, a generation of women is silent and without birth stories. Grandmothers, the traditional family historians, are without voice. This generation of mothers was chemically silenced in knowing their birth experiences. Not all women know about birth practices that include support, verbal instruction, caring, and nurturance, thus influencing the essence of every woman. Before the medicalization of childbirth, young women heard stories about strength and power in birthing, not about difficulty and suffering. [1.]
Did you birth at Genesis Clinic? Would you like to share your birth story? Send us an email here, to submit your story.
How I delivered a 4,5kg baby naturally
My birth story; How I delivered a 4,5kg baby naturally, with no pain medication, and no tearing, at almost 42 weeks pregnant (29 October 2018 / 3.35am / Genesis Maternity Clinic). I gave birth last week Monday 29 October to my son Grayson, at Genesis. I had a dream team that consisted of Obgyn Dr Mia (the best in Jhb), midwife Gail de Vos from Genesis (her knowledge is simply amazing) and my amazing Doula, Katrina Meek from Cuddles and Co. Doula Services (She gave me power, strength and confidence and believed in me from Day1). Read more.
The birth story of my beautiful third daughter
This is the birth story of my beautiful third daughter, Naomi born on 26 Febraury 2018. I am a big advocate of natural birth and women’s rights and choices in childbirth. I am not against c-sections and I don’t doubt that modern medicine is a life saver in emergency situations. However, I don’t view birth as a problem nor something that needs to be numbed or hurried along. When I fell pregnant with my first daughter Ellia, in 2015, I did a lot of research before settling on a ‘plan’. Read more.
My Birth story ~ Beautiful, Empowering and Life-changing
I have been wanting to share my birth story for a while now. I had such an amazing birth experience that I feel it would be a shame not to share my story. I hope that by reading it other women will learn that natural birth CAN be beautiful and empowering and absolutely life-changing, and that they will feel inspired and confident in their decision to have a natural, active birth. Read more
A VBAC Journey and the birth of my 4.92kg baby girl.
I had such a lovely experience at Genesis and if it can help someone else have the same, then that would be amazing. My big, beautiful vbac baby birth story. My precious daughter was a big baby at 4.92kg. It is such an empowering feeling for me to have birthed her naturally because with my c-section, as the gynae took my first daughter out, before she had even been weighed, he told me that there was no way I would’ve been able to birth a baby of her size naturally and she weighed only 4.5kg. My vbac journey began a few months after my first daughter was born in March 2016. I began doing research and it soon became clear that Genesis was the place for me. Read more.
The Birth of Bokamoso Hlalefang Radebe
#SprogDogs Birth Story.
The First Staff Midwife to Birth at Genesis!
An Empowering VBAC Birth.
Private Midwife, Linda Viljoen, Births her Baby at Genesis Clinic.
The Waterbirth of Audrey Lilly.
Arriving just in Time to Birth at Genesis!
It’s a Wonderful World.
A First time Mom.
“I was 41 years’ old and had been told I wouldn’t be able to conceive naturally.”
1. The Journal of Perinatal Education, Birth Stories: A Way of Knowing in Childbirth Education, Spring 2001.