My Birth Story
Birth stories have a lasting impact on expectant mothers. Recognizing the influence of birth stories is a key component of informal communication of knowledge about childbirth for expectant mothers. The goals of the birth story interview and discussion are to provide an opportunity to explore the sharing of a birth story as a critical way of knowing within the family and community, and also to promote understanding of the prenatal period and taking-on of the parental role. The topic of storytelling is important to nurses and families, as it allows the integration of the nurses’ experiences into their future nursing practice, which may be invaluable in facilitating authentic and meaningful connections with their patients.
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It wasn’t at all what I’d expected. I didn’t know that my mom had no friends or family to share her fears, or turn to for guidance. Plus, she had to endure medical providers who were cold and insensitive. She had told me about the pain of labor many times, but I didn’t realize how alone she was, or what that must have felt like to be so young, and not have any knowledge or support. A woman in such a situation who suffers alone and remains isolated from her support system is expected to transcend all such adverse circumstances, and some do. Others don't have the emotional strengths to cope. Moreover, even when they are seemingly coping with the excessive stress, they might still be constantly producing stress hormones and toxins and some will reach the baby in the womb (Sharma, 1996). Reflecting back on the birth of my own children, I realized that my mom had been insistent on being at the hospital to support me. I remember not really wanting her to be there at the time, because my husband was there, but after she arrived, I really did appreciate that she came to be with me. I know now that she was there to be my advocate, and didn’t want me to feel alone and scared the way that she
Birth stories have a lasting impact on expectant mothers. Recognizing the influence of birth stories is a key component of informal communication of knowledge about childbirth for expectant mothers. The goals of the birth story interview and discussion are to provide an opportunity to explore the sharing of a birth story as a critical way of knowing within the family and community, and also to promote understanding of the prenatal period and taking-on of the parental role. The topic of storytelling is important to nurses and families, as it allows the integration of the nurses’ experiences into their future nursing practice, which may be invaluable in facilitating authentic and meaningful connections with their patients.
Method …show more content…
It wasn’t at all what I’d expected. I didn’t know that my mom had no friends or family to share her fears, or turn to for guidance. Plus, she had to endure medical providers who were cold and insensitive. She had told me about the pain of labor many times, but I didn’t realize how alone she was, or what that must have felt like to be so young, and not have any knowledge or support. A woman in such a situation who suffers alone and remains isolated from her support system is expected to transcend all such adverse circumstances, and some do. Others don't have the emotional strengths to cope. Moreover, even when they are seemingly coping with the excessive stress, they might still be constantly producing stress hormones and toxins and some will reach the baby in the womb (Sharma, 1996). Reflecting back on the birth of my own children, I realized that my mom had been insistent on being at the hospital to support me. I remember not really wanting her to be there at the time, because my husband was there, but after she arrived, I really did appreciate that she came to be with me. I know now that she was there to be my advocate, and didn’t want me to feel alone and scared the way that she