Birth Trauma Therapy

Things didn’t go as you expected or hoped, and now you’re left with a scar when all you want to do is try and enjoy this time with your baby.

A traumatic birth experience can make the transition to parenthood (or to adding a sibling) an especially challenging and scary experience. You likely spent months preparing and imagining what it would be like to bring your baby into this world. Whether your birth plan was detailed or not, it’s likely you didn’t anticipate that the aftermath would leave you feeling like you wish you could have a do-over. Feeling vulnerable, powerless, dismissed, or alone can turn what you imagined to be a beautiful and magical experience to something you can’t even think about without distressing emotions arising.

Nearly one third of births are characterized as traumatic. It’s not about not getting the birth you wanted.

Birth trauma can occur for a variety of reasons and is entirely subjective to the birthing person and their partner. Just as every birth is unique, so is the way that our brain and nervous system interpret and make meaning of the experience. I’m not here to tell you what’s considered traumatic and what’s not– you are the only one that gets to decide that for yourself. Your birth trauma doesn’t have to be a life threatening medical event to be considered traumatic. It may involve unexpected medical interventions, fetal complications, a NICU stay, preterm birth, a provider or medical team that wasn’t supportive. While you’re probably overwhelmed with feelings of guilt and shame, none of this is your fault.

Therapy for birth trauma can allow you to…

  • Process feelings of grief and loss

  • Learn strategies for regulating your nervous system

  • Reduce feelings of fear and anxiety around parenting

  • Increase your self-confidence as a parent

  • Manage difficult emotions related to your birth

  • Engage in conversations without feeling triggered

  • Eliminate trauma symptoms such as nightmares, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and avoidance of reminders of the trauma

  • Manage anxiety during a subsequent pregnancy or birth