How Social Media Shapes Our Experience of Birth
Fear, Storytelling, and the Power of Sharing our Stories
Social media has become one of the most influential sources of information about pregnancy and birth. For many expecting parents, it’s where they first encounter birth stories, learn new language around advocacy, and begin forming expectations about labor and delivery. As a doula, hypnobirthing educator, and facilitator of birth story sharing circles, I see both the power and the risk of this exposure every day.
When Stories Reduce Isolation
When shared thoughtfully, birth stories—especially those that name trauma—can be deeply healing. Many people carry difficult birth experiences quietly, unsure whether what they felt was “valid,” particularly if they or their baby were physically safe. Hearing others say “that happened to me too” can reduce shame, normalize emotional responses, and help people feel less alone.
Sharing can also be a gateway to support. I’ve seen countless parents find trauma-informed therapists, postpartum doulas, peer groups, and compassionate care providers because someone else had the courage to share their experience publicly. When patterns emerge across many stories—lack of consent, poor communication, feeling powerless—storytelling can also create pressure for systems-level change. It helps move the conversation from “what went wrong with me?” to “what needs to change in care.”
In the birth story circles I facilitate, the key elements are intention and containment. Stories are shared slowly, with support, and with an emphasis on nervous system regulation. The goal is not to shock or relive pain, but to be witnessed and to integrate the experience.
When Stories Increase Fear
Online spaces don’t always offer that containment.
Social media platforms tend to amplify the most dramatic and emotionally charged content. As a result, many pregnant people are exposed to a steady stream of emergencies, complications, and worst-case scenarios—often without context, resolution, or explanation. When these stories are consumed repeatedly, especially in video form, they can heighten fear and create the sense that birth is inherently dangerous or uncontrollable.
Peer narratives shared online can feel more real and influential than clinical counseling. While this can be validating, it can also shape expectations in ways that aren’t always helpful. I often meet clients who carry vivid mental images or rigid beliefs formed by what they’ve watched or read online, even when those experiences are not common or reflective of their own situation.
This exposure can push people toward inflexible birth plans focused on avoiding certain interventions at all costs, rather than preparing in a values-based, responsive way that prioritizes consent, communication, and adaptability.
The Middle Ground: Using Social Media Intentionally
Social media itself isn’t the problem—it’s how it’s used.
When curated intentionally, it can normalize advocacy, introduce the language of informed consent, and encourage people to seek out supportive, trauma-informed care. Balanced storytelling—stories that include coping, repair, and support—can empower rather than overwhelm.
For pregnant people, I often recommend:
Creating feeds carefully and muting content that spikes anxiety
Treating stories as prompts for reflection or questions, not predictions
Pairing story consumption with grounding practices (breathwork, movement, rest)
Seeking out spaces—online or in person—where stories are held with care and support
Birth preparation isn’t about avoiding all fear or controlling every outcome. It’s about building trust, flexibility, and support—both within yourself and around you.
Stories matter. But context, balance, and nervous system awareness matter just as much.
Resources & References
National Institutes of Health (NIH). Doula support and maternal outcomes.
Beck, C. T. (2004). Post-traumatic stress disorder due to childbirth. Nursing Research.
Ayers, S., et al. (2016). Birth-related PTSD: Prevalence and risk factors.
Thomson, G., & Downe, S. (2010). Changing the future to change the past: Women’s experiences of birth trauma.
Slade, P. (2006). Towards a conceptual framework for understanding post-traumatic stress symptoms following childbirth.
Dekel, S., et al. (2017). Maternal mental health and birth trauma.
