The Birth Myths Guide: Break free from birth myths and create your peace

“As an experienced Midwife, reading The Birth Myths Guide was an unexpectedly emotional experience for me. Not only from a professional view, from a personal view as a mother who has birthed 4 children. As someone who entered my first birth with hopes, expectations, and a vision of how things “should” unfold, when they didn’t follow my ideal plan, It was difficult to deal with postpartum. Even with my medical knowledge I was not prepared for the feeling of disappointment. Why did I feel this way when I had a perfect newborn in my arms. This is such a common, unspoken feeling of overwhelm, that as a Midwife and Mother is hard to dissect. I deeply resonated with this book’s core message: birth rarely follows a script, and that doesn’t make your experience any less valid or meaningful.
This book gave language to those feelings in a way that felt both compassionate and grounding. It gently dismantles the myths we often internalise about birth, particularly the idea that there is a “right” way to do it, and replaces them with something far more helpful: understanding, flexibility, and self-compassion.
What stood out most to me was how validating it felt to read experiences like mine reflected without judgement. The message that our unmet expectations can shape how we feel long after birth, really hit home. This book doesn’t dismiss those emotions, it honours them, while also helping you feel validated.
I feel The Birth Myths Guide is not just a book for expectant mothers; it’s for professionals in the field, partners, family members and anyone who has navigated or is about to navigate the complex emotional rollercoaster of birth personally or along side a loved one, especially when things didn’t go to plan. It offers reassurance that your experience is real, your feelings are valid, and that there is space to find peace within your own story. It normalises different birthing experiences and emotional feelings associated with such a sacred time and takes away the expectation and pressure of the ‘textbook birth’. I feel this book will not only educate, it will take some pressure off women and allow them to lean into their own birthing experience with greater knowledge and less expectation of perfection.”
—Natasha Johnston, Registered Nurse/Registered Midwife

“In the current climate of AI generated advice and social media, providing new parents with myth-busting information is needed more than ever. The Birth Myths Guide serves to empower parents with the right information and ensure their confidence is not undermined.”
—Dr Nicole Highet, COPE Founder and Executive Director

“The Birth Myths Guide by Dr. Emma Black is a valuable and accessible resource for anyone navigating pregnancy, whether preparing for birth for the first time or approaching a subsequent experience with a desire for greater agency, understanding, and informed choice.
From a matrescence perspective, The Birth Myths Guide gently supports a woman’s becoming — encouraging self-awareness, confidence, and a willingness to challenge default thought patterns and generational or societal expectations.
Thoughtful, compassionate, and practical, this book is a meaningful companion for modern mothers.”
—Louise Thornton, Registered Midwife, Matrescence Coach, and Director of Shine Birth