120: The Power in Writing Your Story, with Jaime Fleres

There’s a unique healing power in writing your birth story, in not having an audience, in getting raw and going to the deep places, rather than just sharing the version suitable for light conversation. How do you get started, and is there a way to make the process a bit easier? What if your birth involved trauma? Jaime Fleres tells us more. Check it out! Get the most of this episode by checking out the resources and links listed on the “show-notes” page at: birthful.com/podcastwritingyourstory If you enjoy what you hear, make sure to leave your rating or review. It really helps! And if you want to connect with Adriana, reach out at: facebook.com/birthful twitter.com/birthful instagram.com/adrianika Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/ (©CC BY) Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, at freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/ (©CC BY) What we talked about: Considering the master narrative that you (and your culture) have about birth What is the point of writing your birth story? The 3 layers to a birth story The healing power of writing Reporting vs. Reflecting What happens when you’re not writing for an audience What if you don’t know how to write? How to approach a traumatic birth story Awesome resources mentioned by Jaime*: Birth Your Story: Why Writing about Your Birth Matters, by Jaime Fleres Birthing from Within, by Pam England Mothering from Your Center: Tapping Your Body's Natural Energy for Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenting, by Tami Lynn Kent Labor Day: True Birth Stories by Today's Best Women Writers, by Eleanor Henderson and Anna Solomon Use Your Words: A Writing Guide for Mothers, by Kate Hopper Writing as a Way of Healing: How Telling Our Stories Transforms Our Lives, by Louise Desalvo Opening Up by Writing It Down: How Expressive Writing Improves Health and Eases Emotional Pain, by James W. Pennebaker The Power of Vulnerability, TED talk by Brené Brown Related or mentioned podcast episodes: Healing Your Birth Story, with Pam England (episode #49 ) Sharing Your Birth Story with Your Child, with Anika Rothfuss (episode #100) About Jaime Fieres-Mizejewski Jaime Fleres is the author of the new book Birth Your Story: Why Writing about Your Birth Matters. She is a mother, writing coach, former college professor, doula, holistic healer, and embodied movement teacher. She is the founder of Santosha Birth and Wellness, leads workshops and retreats internationally, and offers her writing and services at JaimeFleres.com.