Childbirth assistance in Brazil today is predominantly ruled by the technocratic model, generating a high rate of unnecessary interventions and promoting iatrogenesis. In this context, the subjective aspects that are typical of childbirth tend to be disregarded, which poses risks for the mental health of the mother, father and child. The purpose of this study was to investigate the subjective experiences of parents regarding childbirth in Brazil today. In order to do so, we examined an colective case study in which we analyzed 30 childbirth reports published in personal blogs about gestation, birth and parenthood experiences, in which 15 accounts written by women and 15 written by men. The results showed the helplessness felt by parents in the face of a technocratic assistance, and the idealization of the care offered by professionals who act according to the humanization paradigm. The idea of choice appeared often in the reports of the subjects, pointing towards a scenario in which the cesarean section is understood as a consumer good. Respect towards the temporality of childbirth appeared as a main issue in order to avoid a traumatic experience. Pain was shown as a key element for the elaboration of the symbolic death, a structural part of the process of parenthood appropriation. The lack of support of the environment was a major contributor to the experience of obstetric violence, in which written accounts served as a means for the elaboration of this traumatic experience. We concluded that medical procedures such as episiotomy, anesthesia, and cesarean section, when performed routinely and with no decision sharing or psychological support, represent a form of ritualization to keep unconscious the sexual representation of childbirth. This ritualization leads to iatrogenesis in childbirth, harming the mother-child health. Therefore, care and respect in interpersonal relationships should be seen as fundamental requirements for childbirth support. Professionals that aid in childbirth need to be qualified to understand the emotional aspects inherent to childbirth. Finally, we also understand that interdisciplinary exchange is a powerful tool to guarantee high-quality assistance.