Real-Life Birth Stories

Pregnancy is an amazing time but can be confusing and often, scary. If you're anything like me you'll pore over books and magazines in an attempt to arm yourself with as much information as possible before the birth. I became obsessed with reading real-life birth stories throughout my pregnancy and also watched countless tv programmes about birth from behind a cushion. It all seemed so alien to me.

Of course nothing can really prepare you for giving birth but forewarned is forearmed as they say. I found that the breathing techniques used in my local pregnancy relaxation class helped me to get a handle on the pain and the fact that I'd read so many books about each stage of labour meant that while I was nervous I knew roughly what to expect. Not everyone's experience is straightforward but I know women who have had traumatic births who wouldn't hesitate to do it all again as the end result is always worth it.

As there is so much information and advice available to expectant parents I have trawled through a vast quantity of reading material and put together a shortlist of books you might enjoy reading - from real-life birth stories to week by week guides. By clicking on the book cover you can purchase any of the featured titles via Amazon.

Good Luck!

Claire Walker
The Baby Maze Ltd

Real-life Birth Stories

Blooming Birth: How to Get the Pregnancy and Birth You Want by Lucy Atkins and Julia Guderian
A book which tackles the reality of birth head on. The authors include details of their own experiences and the book also contains contributions from other mums and dads. This isn't a medical book but if you want to read a realistic guide to giving birth by people who have been there then this is the one for you.

Stand and Deliver!: And Other Brilliant Ways to Give Birth by Emma Mahony
A light-hearted guide to birth, written by a mother of twins (and columnist for the Times). This is a humourous look at labour and birth and includes a number of positive birth stories as well as practical advice and information.

Minus Nine to One: The Diary of an Honest Mum by Jools Oliver
Written by Jamie Oliver's other half this is a suprisingly honest account of her journey throughout pregnancy and beyond (including personal anecdotes - some moving and some plain embarrassing). If you want to read about what's it's really like to be a new mum then you'll find this an enjoyable read.

Week-by-Week Guides

Your Pregnancy Bible: The Experts' Guide to the Nine Months of Pregnancy and the First Weeks of Parenthood. By Anne Deans.
This huge book is crammed full of practical information and advice. Covering the week-by-week development of an unborn baby, through to the delivery itself you will be consulting this Bible throughout your entire pregnancy. A really useful book with a good mixture of information and images.

Your Pregnancy Week by Week by Lesley Regan
Written by a Professor who also happens to be a mother of twins this book offers guidence on just about every aspect of pregnancy and birth you could think of. The easy to read text is complemented by some fantastic illustrations. A delight to dip in and out of during pregnancy.

A few examples of Real-Life Birth Stories

Other people's birth stories, written in their own words are fascinating and emotional. Here are a few examples:

The Birth of Mia Rose

My first question on entering the delivery suite was “where's the gas and air?” - Click here to read the full story

The Birth of Taylor Jayne

Although my pregnancy was quite straight forward with you, I didn't really know what to expect with the labour - although people kept saying if you have a trouble free pregnancy, you'll have a trouble free birth - click here to read the full story

The Birth of Jamie Boo

I finally got the bed as I wanted it - just in time - the pressure was building and my waters just popped and gushed everywhere! The next thing I said I wanted to push and your head crowned - click here to read the full story