As an expectant first-time mum with, hopefully, just a few weeks to go, I recently found out that my baby is breech. My Instagram feed has long been filled with idealised, midwife-led vaginal births, exactly the kind of experience I’d hoped for myself. But with baby having other ideas, I began to worry that a positive birth experience might no longer be possible.
Then I was given Claire Fulton’s Little Book of Positive Birth Stories, and what a comfort it has been. This beautiful collection, written by 30 different women, has offered me genuine reassurance. Each birth story is unique – some planned caesareans, others emergency sections, accidental home births, breech deliveries, a range of pain relief choices… the list goes on. Yet every mother's story concludes with a positive reflection on the birth of their child. It’s the first time I’ve come across accounts of birth plans going ‘wrong’ that still feel joyful, empowering and affirming. What a gift.
The stories span experiences from women in the UK, US and Canada, and are grouped into three broad categories: birth centre, hospital, and home birth. Each story is also tagged with helpful key terms at the top (e.g. doula, caesarean, epidural), which makes it easy to revisit relevant stories later. While I enjoyed reading the book cover to cover, I suspect I’ll be dipping back in over the coming weeks to revisit particular stories that speak to both my plan and any deviations from it.
Altogether, this collection celebrates the rich diversity of birth experiences – filled with humour, comfort, reassurance, and the consistent reminder that happy endings come in many forms.
PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Claire Fulton’s Little Book of Positive Birth Stories is published by Virago and is available from bookshops and £13.99 on Amazon
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