Encouraging Words, Unintentional Wounds

There is a current trend in online social networking sites that cater to birthing women of broadcasting empowering quotes about birth. Many of these quotes are wonderful reminders of the power and strength of women’s bodies and minds. Many quotes are testimonies to the transformative power of birth. But a few of them are easily misinterpreted, and can— when taken out of context—increase the misunderstanding and confusion that surround traumatic birth.

Some quotes, if misread, serve to place birth as a competitive act, pitting women against each other. Others appear to point the finger at the woman herself as being to blame for a less-than great birth, even though that interpretation is likely unintended by either the author, or those who post the quote online. We are concerned about the impact of these quotes on women recovering from a traumatic birth, and also on women in general, as they perpetuate myths that potentially prevent women from supporting each other in the early mothering phase.

This article focuses on one of these quotes, in an effort to explain our concerns and place the quotes within a context that enables women to better understand their birth experiences without feeling blamed or like a failure.