Birth Trauma Therapy
Birth trauma is in the eye of the beholder!
It's not just about what medically happened, but about how you felt and what you believed in those moments.
Have you ever asked:
"Why can't I stop replaying my birth in my head?" "Is it normal to have nightmares about labor?" "Why do I have flashbacks to my delivery?" "Birth trauma - is my experience valid?" "Why do I avoid anything that reminds me of my birth?" "Why am I terrified of getting pregnant again?" "People say 'at least the baby is healthy' - why doesn't that help?" "Can you get PTSD from childbirth?" "I felt powerless during birth - is that trauma?" "Why can't I bond with my baby after traumatic birth?"
You're not alone. And your trauma is real. Birth trauma and postpartum PTSD affect up to 17% of new parents. Your experience matters - even if the baby is healthy. You don't have to relive it alone. You don't have to pretend you're fine when you're not. You just need a safe container in which to reprocess your experience.
Birth trauma is trauma, whether it was a medical emergency, feeling powerless during delivery, complications that left you terrified, or simply feeling unheard and unsafe. You don't have to "just be grateful" while suffering in silence. Healing is possible, and you deserve support that honors what you went through. We believe you.
Wondering if you might have perinatal PTSD?
Symptoms of Postpartum PTSD:
Symptoms can start anytime during pregnancy or postpartum and may look different for each person: intrusive thoughts or flashbacks of the traumatic event; nightmares or sleep disturbances; anxiety or panic attacks; hypervigilance or feeling on edge; avoidance of reminders (medical appointments, conversations about birth, intimacy); feeling detached or numb; irritability, anger, or mood swings; difficulty bonding with baby; feeling like you failed or that your body betrayed you.
Risk Factors:
If you had a difficult birth it does not mean you will develop Perinatal PTSD. However, risk factors include: emergency or unplanned cesarean section; use of vacuum extractor or forceps; prolapsed cord or other pregnancy complications; baby going to the NICU; severe physical complications or injury during pregnancy or birth; feelings of powerlessness, lack of support, or being dismissed during delivery; previous trauma or PTSD; history of sexual abuse; lack of informed consent or feeling unheard by medical providers; stillbirth, pregnancy loss, or near-miss events. It's important to discuss your birth experience and any distressing feelings with a provider who specializes in perinatal trauma (like us!).