Birth Trauma and Birth Story Processing

You planned your perfect birth.

Maybe you knew exactly what you wanted - or maybe you told yourself you could be flexible, as long as baby was safe. But you never anticipated what it would feel like for things not to go to plan; for your world to be turned upside down.

The birth was a whirlwind - one minute everything was fine, the next, you could hardly wrap your mind around what was happening. Maybe there’s one specific moment that will always stick with you, or maybe everything is a blur. I work with women who need a safe place to process their fear, sadness, anger, regret or guilt that still lives within them when they think about the birth. The ones who have to smile and keep going, when deep inside they’re really not ok.

1 in 3 women will experience trauma as a result of their birthing experience.

(Pidd, D., Newton, M., Wilson, I., & East, C. (2023)

Trauma is subjective, and what feels traumatic varies from person to person. It is often described as a disturbing, upsetting, or scary situation that arises due to loss or lack of control in an emotionally intense situation. As a result, you may experience numbness, hypervigilance, flashbacks, nightmares, or avoidance of places or situations that remind you of the traumatic event.

Therapy with me is a safe place to process your birth experience, with someone who genuinely cares. Clients come away feeling supported, heard, and able to breathe a sigh of relief that they can share just how difficult it really was, without judgment, and a clear path forward toward healing.