Sharing birth story with client

[syncreo]

Hi,
Do you share your own birth stories with clients? A post in another thread got me thinking about this and I didn't want to take over the OP's thread as it sounded like she needed some support.

If you do - are there boundaries or restrictions on what you share? If you don't - why?

I will come back late and write my own thoughts but I gotta run and take my dd to school.

[doula Michele]

I do sometimes, it all depends on the situation.
I don't make it a main focus, but i often will say that I had my own kids in this hospital, I had a positive experience, or something like that.
I will also sometimes talk about my own PPD, how I did not recognize the signs, but that we did get through it.

It all totally depends on the relationship that I have with them, and each client is different.

[hotwings640]

I don't really share the full stories, but sometimes little tid-bits come up or if they ask me questions about my own experiences, I will share a bit. I don't like to share too much though because I don't want to make it seem like I am trying to make it all about me and not about them and their current experience.

[syncreo]

Alright, I have a couple of minutes.

I sometimes share bits and pieces depending on the relationship. I use anecdotes here and there a lot in my CBE but more for humour then for anything else I think it is important for women to hear positive birth stories and since both of mine were radically different yet both positive I like them to hear that. I can't remember every telling the stories in their entirety though and I don't bring it up in relation to their pregnancy or birth.

In fact I would say "Do I have children?" and "What were your birth experiences like?" are two of the most common interview questions I get. When they ask about my birth experiences that is when I tell them I had two very different ones (home waterbirth and cesarean). It seems to be the a way for them to make a connection with me.

[DL]

Huh! I am usually asked if I have children, but I don't think I've ever been asked what my birth experiences were like. I haven't ever gone into my birth experiences in depth. One reason is because who I am birth philosophy-wise is now totally different than when I had my kiddoes (16 & 18 years ago). I've grown and learned a lot since then.

The only things I tend to share is when I can make a positive comparison about the many options open to them now as compared to where/when I gave birth. I never go into, "I decided to do this or that because of this or that". For the most part, however, I rarely bring up my births at all.

[amymaew]

I mention that one was born at the hospital and one was born at home, but that's about it.

[doula_leslie]

I offer info if I am asked about it. With my recent client we talked about it while she was resting after having her epidural. I have also talked about my positive breastfeeding experiences and let them know that babes don't always come out knowing how to nurse.

[AmandaB]

I have done alot of healing from my pregnancy and birth with my daughter and I now wear it as a badge of honour. I am quite open about the birth, I don't get into the details of the pregnancy because I think people would judge (see my spotlight and stay tuned in August for her complete story). I will never be proud of keeping my pregnancy silent, or getting as sick as I did. Although I am proud that I was able to quietly bring my child into the world.

Although the idea of fast labour does freak alot of people out! Although I say there are circumstances that led to that (leave it at that) and that it is very uncommon to not make it to the hospital if that is where you intent to be. Most people are just in awe that you can have a baby so calmly and I think that inspires people.

[missilla]

if they ask I will share little bits here and there. But like the others say I try not to put the focus on me. there are certain things i like to share about myself sometime. the PPD is definitly one of them. i think it all depends on the family.