Birth Stories

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

I CANNOT believe that it’s ME on the other side…I’M ON THE FLIP SIDE NOW…W.O.W…This is MY STORY. Read more.My Birth Story – In honor of my amazing midwife, the late Susan Joan King , who labeled my birth as the easiest in her career.Birth HistoryI had my unneceasarian (unnecessary c-section) in February 2014. Lots of false information told to me by my gynae – Conveniently the day before her theatre day, she ‘claimed’ I developed pre-eclampsia of which the ONLY symptom I had was slightly elevated blood pressure. Read more.

 #SprogDogs Birth Story.

I have had a deep-rooted  fear of birth, which is ironic due to me being a midwife. It wasn’t the type of fear of adverse events occurring (as I knew I had a phenomenal team), but the fear of the pain of the birth process. I have an incredibly low pain tolerance in general – to the extent that if I stub my toe, I need to faint – how on Earth would I cope with labour? Read more.

The First Staff Midwife to Birth at Genesis!

I had recently started my own midwifery practice. So juggling the practice, being a full time staff midwife at Genesis as well as being a mom was more than enough for me. But as luck would have it something else was written in my stars than what I had intended. Read more.

An Empowering VBAC Birth.

I’ve been pregnant twice in my life…  I loved being pregnant!  It’s such a natural, magical, wonderful thing… a miracle! What I didn’t love, was the lack of information regarding birth. I was told that a C-section was the best (and only) option, that my son was huge, that natural birth would ruin my body and wouldn’t it be convenient to “pick the date” and be “organised”. Read more.

Private Midwife, Linda Viljoen, Births her Baby at Genesis Clinic.

I am in the unique position of being a midwife and a mother to three precious children. This is the story of Micah, my last born’s birth. My first daughter, Rebecca was born at 38 weeks after my waters broke and I had to be induced by my then midwife and partner in practice, Marinda Taha. Read more.

The Waterbirth of Audrey Lilly.

It all started at about 1 am on the 28th of June 2011. Not knowing what real contractions felt like and seeing that they were irregular I went blissfully back to sleep unaware that I was in the beginning stages of labour! he next morning I had a meeting with some designers at work and at around 11am my husband drove us to Genesis Clinic for our antenatal appointment with our midwife Sue King. Read more.

Arriving just in Time to Birth at Genesis!

Knowing what an advantage an active birth would be for all of us, I looked forward more and more to the birth experience at Genesis, with the tranquillity of the rooms and looking forward to birthing in the gorgeous baths available, also knowing that we would all be able to be involved in this experience and welcoming Baby into the world as a sound happy family unit. Read more.

It’s a Wonderful World.

Don’t get me wrong, I thank God for the wisdom that doctors have to perform Caesars, but only when it’s really necessary. Had I known better at the time, I would have never gone back to the hospital when the doctor called me. I would’ve waited. Read more.

A First time Mom.

Our journey to Genesis started, I think, as many other mothers has, with a recommendation. As a first time mum, I wanted to experience every little milestone, step, moment and decision that pregnancy would present to me. I envisioned the moment I’d become a mum to the full and was delighted and nervous for what the next 9 months held. Read more.

“I was 41 years’ old and had been told I wouldn’t be able to conceive naturally.”

I was 41 years’ old and had been told I wouldn’t be able to conceive naturally. I decided against any interventions, so had been off the pill for about a year, when I found out I was pregnant. Unexpectedly. After a romantic weekend in the Magaliesburg with my hubby, Paul. Read more.

1. The Journal of Perinatal Education, Birth Stories: A Way of Knowing in Childbirth Education, Spring 2001.