The Mothership is reader supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn affiliate commission.
A lot of decisions go into childbirth: your team, your birth plan, pain meds or no, hospital or home, and on and on. And often, nothing goes according to plan anyway. Here you’ll find first-person essays about both the magical and the difficult aspects of birth and answers to questions about doulas, home births, and anything else you might be wondering.
After coming out, leaving the evangelical church, and becoming pregnant, giving birth helped me understand and trust my body in a way I couldn't before
Around the world, women—me included—are reconsidering giving birth in hospitals because of COVID-related restrictions that limit partner and doula support, stretch staff thin, and make the process more complicated
Our healthcare systems should trust mothers during childbirth, but I felt ignored until I started advocating for myself
Blood compatibility between mom and baby is vital, so testing and treatment has become standard practice
Everything you need to know if your baby's feet-down
My first birth experience in Italy was wonderful—and cheap—and I realized that the United States doesn't care for its mothers and families the way many other countries do
October 19, 2021
For some women, giving birth vaginally after having a C-section is a very real possibility
Read Story
My first experience with labor felt too medical and like I wasn't in control—I wanted something different the second time around
Read Story
From a vaginal birth plan to a C-section to deliver a breech baby to a vaginal birth again, my daughter put us through the paces before she was even born
Read Story
While my friends were pursuing their careers, traveling, and having fun, I was at home with a baby. But this was a phase I eventually grew to welcome.
Read StorySign up for access to exclusive promotions, latest news and opportunites to test new pre-release products
