What is a positive birth experience?

05/03/2026 Kirsty Crimmins

There is no ‘perfect’ birth experience.

Positive birth can look like:

Planned caesarean
Waterbirth
Planned induction
Homebirth
Pain relief
No pain relief

And SO many variations in between..

A positive birth experience doesn’t look a certain way, it’s about how you FELT during the experience.

~ Did you feel supported?

~ Did you feel heard?

~ Did you feel safe?

Studies show that a woman’s recollections of her birth experience and whether it was positive or negative are related more to feelings of choice and control than specific details of the birth experience itself.

It’s not necessarily about what happens, it’s about how you were made to FEEL.

Being educated about birth, knowing your options, feeling heard, supported and listen to leads to feelings of empowerment and trust and is more likely to lead to a positive birth experience.