I'm wondering how many birth doulas also provide birth stories as a part of their package?

If you do, do you have any tips and advice for those of us non-writers in the group?

I'm also wondering if anyone is willing to share their "outline" and/or a birth story that they've written?

As always, thank you!

I

Jessa,

I write stories. I think you need to write it as you are comfortable, don't put too much pressure on yourself. So if you are a non-writer, then just do a time line, time they contacted you, when you arrived, any reactions or emotions, how mom did, observations and when baby was born.

I would be happy to share mine with you along with the contract you requested alothough I am going to need your email so that I can attach files.

I thought I was going to add this as part of my package but quickly realized it wasn't something I'd always be comfortable doing. I was happy writing the first two because the births were very inspiring and I really felt a great connection with my clients but I still felt a lot of pressure to get it done. With the next birth I honestly just didn't know what to say. Also, I wrote the first one before my pp visit and at the visit realized my perceptions weren't necessarily my clients perceptions and didn't feel the story really added to her birth experience. In fact, it may have even downplayed the parts that she wasn't happy with and I don't like that part of it. So, I may write an occasional story but when the births start happening again I am going to stick with the more factual time line route.

Check out the following threads where we have discussed birth stories before:

• Birth Stories (4 pages long, several members share examples of the stories they have written for clients)
• Birth Story For Client (wombservice4you shares an example of one of her birth stories)
• Birth Story for Client (wombservice4you shares another sample of one of her birth stories)
• What if I Wrote a Birth Story... (earthgirl ponders sending a birth story as a surprise for clients on their baby's first birthday)
• Help - Birth Story From Doula Perspective (UtahDoula shares an example of one of her timeline/stories)
• Writing a Birth Story (Amandoula1980 shares a sample of one of her birth stories)

My own thoughts on writing birth stories (as shared in post #7 of this thread - click underlined link to view):

I do whatever "feels right" with the client. If it was a great, inspiring birth for HER and for ME then I write it out. If it was difficult for her and she is having trouble processing, then I definitely write it out for her. I feel that sometimes a doula's perspective can help legitimize the feelings a mom has and also offer her that proverbial "pat on the back" that she really needs to know that she birthed her baby and she is AMAZING! If it was rough for me, but mom did great and is happy, then I'll do more of a time-line. That way I don't feel obligated to stick my negative feelings into her happy ones.

HTH! In the doula world, I have found that NOTHING has a "rule" that applies to every and all clients.

I did write one for my first client. However, my first client was my SIL and so I actually wrote a letter to my niece about the day she was born. I don't know that I will write them for every client and I deffinatly don't think I will put it in my services offered. The client the hired me yesterday is due on the 28th of october, (better late than never I guess LOL), and I just don't know that I will have enough time to bond with them to feel comfortable writting it for them. I did just have a thought though , I probably will end up writting something about every birth just to help me process it, and keep it for myself.

I wrote my own birth story about when my daughter was born almost 20 years ago. I think I wrote it in the hospital, I just found it a few weeks ago. It made me cry..just all the emotions that I had written about shortly after her birth. I did not feel the need to write one after my sons birth... I don't know why.
I do not write them for clients. It is their experience to write about, not mine. I will provide them with the timesline of events if they request it or have any questions. But not routinely.

I really enjoy writing and so I usually love writing birth stories. I have written one for every client I've had (60+) I have a really good memory and take lots of notes, so there's a lot of quotes and asides that they usually don't remember. So far they all seem to really enjoy it (I've even had women want me as their doula after reading their friend's birth story) The average birth story is 3 typed pages (I've had several as long as 7) On baby's first birthday I often re-read their story before calling the parents to wish baby a happy birthday.
Yes there are some stories that are definitely harder to write than others. I don't sugarcoat or try to rationalize/justify situations but I'm also careful to stay neutral/non-judgemental.

I haven't done this but will probably check out the threads listed by pp.

I thought I would write a story for each client, but I find it to be really difficult. For me, I just don't know what perspective to write it in. I get messed up with wanting to write about the client from a 3rd person, but it seems more personal as more of a 1st person memoir. I just felt bogged down by wanting to make it perfect, but not being able to. Also, I would love some tips on taking better notes during the birth...when do you find the time?

I got myself into a little trouble because I wrote a birth story for one client and her friend hired me and really wanted a birth story but I just didn't have it in me to produce it. I think she is still waiting on it, so that idea of presenting it on the 1st birthday is great.

I write one. For every single client and I must complete it before the postpartum visit, which means that I don't get the balance due of my fee until it's written.

It's also a requirement of our doula practice that clients assigned to our doulas get a written record of the birth. It's up to the doula to determine how she will present it.

My birth stories average at least 6-7 pages. I've only ever written a 2 page birth story once, and that was in the form of a "letter to the baby" because mom gave birth so fast, there wasn't much to write!

My typical style is a timeline with a lot of details. I use a journal to take notes at births and then add any funny or cute comments, touching moments, etc to my notes and then write a timeline/story from my notes within a day or two of the birth.

I've attached a birth story that is a timeline format with some gaps. It's an actual birth story of a birth I did last year but have changed all the names (except for that of the hospital). This birth also took a dramatic turn during the third stage and I addressed it in the best way I could.

I too like the timeline method in most cases. I don't advertise it as a service, just a nice surprise at the pp visit. I have a little notebook I use during labor. I write the time as often as I can with comments in the book and write quick scribble notes when I get a chance. Usually the last hour of birth has nothing in my notes, but I remember all of it.

It depends on how the labor progressed and how involved I was, etc. If I was up supporting mom the whole time, I am usually not looking at the clock and can't do a timeline for her. If I have time to sit down for a few minutes I try to make some notes.

Then it depends on how I actually felt about the birth. If I sit down and start to write the story and I find it NOT flowing easily, I stop.

So, no. I don't provide it, but I do try to do one.

Hi - I am new to this site and I am going to jump right in! I always write a birth story. Not so much for my clients (even though I do offer it in my package) but for myself. It some how cleanses me. If I felt at any point that something didn't go the way I, or my client had hoped, or if I was confused about something that took place during the birth, it helps me to be able to process the event, and move on. I have had clients specifically hire me simply based on the fact that I write birth stories. People want another persons view or take on their birth. They want to know all the little details that they may have missed, and this is a way to provide them of that.

Shannon
CD(ALACE)

I write a birth story for every birth....moms and dads always say with tears and thanks how wonderful it is to have because so much of it becomes a blur for them.....I do it in third party to the child...a story to them about their birth :-)
I love doing it....! It might take some time but it gets done!
Cindy