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I’ve spent hours prepping and readying the round up post about our first CAMERA READY class, and yet, today, it does not feel appropriate to share it. I will save that for tomorrow, when my mind and heart aren’t so focused elsewhere. Today, I want to focus on a moment of absolute courage, bravery and inspiration that I’ve been honored and humbled to share through The Beauty of Being Born.

I started the site out of a desire to create a community where women, parents, mothers, caregivers, PEOPLE could come together and share their stories. Their journeys to bringing new life into the world. It was to be free of judgement or agenda. Every birth matters. Whether it’s at home in the security of your bedroom, or with the help of a surgeon in a life-saving moment, or with the support of medication, or by the side of a highway. Whether your story is triumphant, heartbreaking, angry, joyous, celebratory, devastating, or a complicated combination of contradictory yet complimentary emotions. Every story matters. None is better or worse than another. They are experiences, journeys – incredibly powerful ones at that – that deserve to be heard and shared and processed and understood.

I was fortunate that in that first week of launching The Beauty of Being Born, I was joined by an amazing local mother and doula to help in maintaining and sharing in this community. Libbie and I now partner in collecting stories and content for the site, and I’ve been so fortunate to have another inspiring woman by my side as I make my way through these new and unknown endeavors. What Libbie and I had underestimated would be the courage and bravery so many women have demonstrated in sharing their stories that do not have your typical happy endings. That are stories of struggle, and loss, and uncertainty, and ultimately strength. Such unbelievable, immeasurable strength to not only put language to their experiences, but to wake up each day and move forward in the face of them. We are in awe. We’re working very hard to try to showcase a spectrum of stories but are also realizing that women that had relatively “normal,” or “easy,” or “complication free” births (again, those terms are so very relative) don’t feel that they have as much processing to do, and have been quieter in submitting. And it’s been truly moving and inspirational to see how many women that don’t have picture perfect journeys or endings have stepped forward to share. Today is no exception.

Today I’m holding dear sweet Addilynn and her family in my heart. And I am moved to tears by the privilege of being able to do just that. Thank you for sharing in that support.

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Whatever your birth story, we hope that you will share it with The Beauty of Being Born. We post anonymously and without judgement.  Thank you for being a part of our community.