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Emily Souder
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Birth Story Brave: A Guide for Reflecting on Your Childbirth Experience Paperback – November 14, 2017

by Emily Souder (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 21 ratings
Bringing a child into the world, by any means, is seriously life changing! But we often don't (or can't) stop to reflect on what the experience meant to us and how it impacted us. Recounting the details of the birth to friends and family is only part of that! Birth Story Brave is a space for mamas to reflect safely, without judgment, on the huge transition they experienced using sensitive questions to guide their journaling. I'll walk with you, mamas. Ready to look inside? . . "I only wish that I had this right after I gave birth to my baby! I was desperately looking for a way to help me process the experience, especially because, like for most mamas, it was not what I expected. I ended up writing my thoughts down in a journal months later but it was all free-writing. The prompts that Emily offers in this workbook are helpful as a starting place for the places we might benefit from investigating. Also, what an amazing gift to be able to have this chronicled journey in one place for your child to read one day, perhaps when they are becoming a parent themselves. I bought this for my friend who just gave birth via c-section when she had planned for a natural birth. I am hoping it will help her to express her feelings around this 'expectation violation' and see her birth as perfect and brave. Thank you, Emily for creating such a valuable resource for mothers. What a great gift to be able to give to my expectant friends and family members!" – Laura C. Cannon, author of The Conscious Entrepreneur
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  1. Print length
    49 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    November 14, 2017
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.12 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    069298240X
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0692982402
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Emily Souder (November 14, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 49 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 069298240X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0692982402
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.36 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.12 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 21 ratings

About the author

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Emily Souder

Emily Souder

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Emily Souder, LCSW-C, PMH-C is a licensed clinical social worker in Maryland (www.emilysouder.com), as well as a writer, intuitive guide, and Reiki Master practitioner (www.nestingspacellc.com). She writes books to help readers find space to explore personal stories. She wrote Birth Story Brave in 2017 to walk parents through reflecting on their birth experiences, and published an updated version of this called Birth Story Brave, Reimagined in 2021. Her book Sparks is a self-help/memoir blend designed to inspire readers to intentionally step away from fear-based actions and move toward amusement, inner knowing, and trust. Emily's newest book, Birth Story Held for Loss, is a special space for readers who have experienced perinatal loss to explore their pregnancy/gestation, birth, and loss stories.

Emily is married with two children and loves tea & all things personal growth. She believes in doing deep personal healing work, and hopes you will join her.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
21 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book insightful, valuable, and helpful for processing their births. They describe it as a wonderful tool and powerful resource for women of all ages.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

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InsightValue for money
6 customers mention "Insight"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, valuable, and helpful for processing a birth. They say it allows reflection on all the experiences that come along with birthing a child. Readers mention the book helps validate any fears and doubts that may have occurred. In addition, they say it focuses on taking care of the mama.

"...Thank you, Emily for creating such a valuable resource for mothers. What a great gift to be able to give to my expectant friends and family members!" Read more

"...Most importantly, it lets you process those feelings in your own way with its thought provoking questions and carefully constructed narrative guides...." Read more

"...It’s a perfect gift for all mothers, both new and not-so-new. Add it to your baby registry or gift it to a special friend or family member...." Read more

"What a wonderful, insightful guide. It allows mothers to reflect on their birth experience, without judgement...." Read more

4 customers mention "Value for money"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a wonderful tool, powerful resource, and insightful guide. They say it's helpful as a starting point for places they might go.

"...The prompts that Emily offers in this workbook are helpful as a starting place for the places we might benefit from investigating...." Read more

"What a wonderful, insightful guide. It allows mothers to reflect on their birth experience, without judgement...." Read more

"...What a unique and powerful resource for women of all ages who have experienced the intensity often associated with the transition into parenthood..." Read more

"A wonderful tool!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Laura C. Cannon
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Gift for a New Mother!
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2017
Verified Purchase
I only wish that I had this right after I gave birth to my baby! I was desperately looking for a way to help me process the experience, especially because, like for most mama's, it was not what I expected. I ended up writing my thoughts down in a journal months later but it was all free-writing. The prompts that Emily offers in this workbook are helpful as a starting place for the places we might benefit from investigating. Also, what an amazing gift to be able to have this chronicled journey in one place for your child to read one day, perhaps when they are becoming a parent themselves. I bought this for my friend who just gave birth via c-section when she had planned for a natural birth. I am hoping it will help her to express her feelings around this 'expectation violation' and see her birth as perfect and brave. Thank you, Emily for creating such a valuable resource for mothers. What a great gift to be able to give to my expectant friends and family members!
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SMJ
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful tool!
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2017
Verified Purchase
With gentle prompting, Birth Story Brave gives mothers- both new and old- permission. Permission to feel all the things that a mom should feel but often sets aside while doing what a mother does- care for her family. This book focuses on taking care of the mama, especially those that sometimes need a reminder, it allows reflection on all of the experiences that come along with birthing a child. Most importantly, it lets you process those feelings in your own way with its thought provoking questions and carefully constructed narrative guides. Thank you Emily Souder, for your introspective words of encouragement and inspiration to aid mothers in discovering the emotions - whatever they may be- that come with such a momentous event in their lives.
One person found this helpful
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Emily Herzing
5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect gift for all moms, both new and not-so-new!
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2018
Verified Purchase
Birthing a child and entering motherhood is an exhilarating, exciting, and joyous event. It can also be overwhelming, exhausting, and even traumatic. Postpartum women experience so many emotions, and many go unnoticed or unexplored due to the pressures and responsibilities that come with being a new mom.

Birth Story Brave gives women the opportunity to reflect inwardly, to share the emotions (both the joy and the grief) that come with delivering a child, no matter how the child enters the world. It gives women permission to “feel all the feels,” and it helps to validate any fears and doubts that may have occurred during and after childbirth.

Sometimes you just need someone to say “it’s ok,” or “I understand what you’re going through,” and Birth Story Brave does just that.

It’s a perfect gift for all mothers, both new and not-so-new. Add it to your baby registry or gift it to a special friend or family member. She will cherish the book and honor her brave birth story!
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Kelly G.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reflective Guide
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2017
Verified Purchase
What a wonderful, insightful guide. It allows mothers to reflect on their birth experience, without judgement. Helpful for all mothers who birthed their child(ren) and a great gift for a mother in your life. I use it in my clinical practice with mothers to gain awareness into how their birth experience affects their current relationship with their child(ren). I've used this book personally to reflect on my own experience and I have also shared this book with my mom friends to support them in their own journey. If you are a mom, know a mom, or work with moms, I recommend this book. -Kelly Gordon, LCSW, Child and Parenting Mental Health Therapist
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Valerie McManus
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a beautiful, thoughtful
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2017
Verified Purchase
This is a beautiful, thoughtful, consciously created tool full of insightful questions and gentle encouragement. What a unique and powerful resource for women of all ages who have experienced the intensity often associated with the transition into parenthood (via birth)! Even the artwork offers an insight producing tool for contemplation. Thank you, Ms. Sounder, for sharing this invaluable resource.
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Denise Vite
5.0 out of 5 stars A useful guide to reflecting on your birth
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2018
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Helpful guide for processing your birth, from beginning to end and afterwards. As mothers we often don’t pause to truly process this experience and it can be so healing to reflect on it in this way. Writing down thoughts and feelings with the help from the prompts was so helpful!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Bought this wonderful book for my daughter after she had her second ...
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 2017
Verified Purchase
Bought this wonderful book for my daughter after she had her second child. She likes journaling and this is a great way to start or keep journaling. I turned around and bought a second for myself, what a great way to remember and write about my own children's birth!
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JoJo
5.0 out of 5 stars Remembering her special time.
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2019
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I gifted this book from a friends baby shower registry. She loves it.
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