Birth Trauma
Do you feel haunted by unwanted memories, feelings, and flashbacks associated with the traumatic birthing experience?
Are anxiety, worry, and panic attacks interfering with moments of peace, joy, and connection?
Do you blame yourself for the traumatic events surrounding childbirth? Ruminating on the “shoulds” and “if onlys”
Are you feeling disconnected from or afraid of your child or worry that you’ll cause harm?
Do difficult feelings like guilt and shame prevent you from communicating your pain and struggle to your loved one(s)?
Are you feeling disconnected from yourself, your partner(s), family and friends?
Do you grieve the experience you envisioned for yourself?
It doesn't have to be this way forever.
Birth trauma can manifest in various ways, revealing a deep emotional, psychological, behavioral, relational and physical impact.
An expereince such as birth trauma has the potentioal to shake our world view and sense of self, significantly influencing how we navigate our life.
Whether it was a complicated delivery, unexpected medical complications, a lack of support uring the birthing process, or feeling like your needs and desires were not being honored survivors often expereince a variety of difficulties related to the experience.
Emotional Distress
Intense and overwhelming emotions such as fear, anger, sadness or shame/guilt. Feeling numb or detached from emotion.
Changes in Thinking
Intrusive thoughts or memories related to the trauma.Difficulty remembering the traumatic event.Feeling difficulty concentrating and easily distracted.Concerns around one's safety and security.Feeling powerless and/or to blame.
Relationship Difficulties
Feeling isolated or inability to be understood by others. Withdrawing from relationships and people.Difficulty forming and maintaining close relationships. Trouble trusting and experiencing intimacy with others.
Behavioural Changes
Changing your life and routine to avoid people places and things that remind you of the traumatic event.Losing interest in things that once caused you pleasure.Changes in eating, sleeping, and daily routines. Engaging in behaviours to create feelings of safety.
Physical/Somatic Symptoms
Physical symptoms such as headaches, digestive issues, or chronic pain for which there is no apparent medical cause (psychosomatic).Tension and heart rate in body - feeling more hypervigilant and on guard.Prolonged exposure to trauma or lack of treatment can increase risk of cardiovascular and immune difficulties.
Psychological Disorders
Left untreated, birth trauma can result in various psychological difficulties including:
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety Disorders including Panic Attacks
- Post-Natal Depression
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety Disorders including Panic Attacks
- Post-Natal Depression
Your journey to healing begins here.
Our experienced psychotherapists are here to guide your healing journey with empathy, understanding and expertise.
We have worked with birth trauma and supported parents through all stages of the neonatal journey.
Reclaim Your Life: Rediscover Joy
Psychotherapy can be a powerful tool in the journey to recovery from birth trauma. At New Moon Psychotherapy, our approach is rooted in evidence-based practices and tailored to your unique needs.
Your therapist will start with an assessment to understand how birth trauma is impacting you and discussion around your goals – what you hope to get out of therapy. Collaboratively you will create a treatment plan and begin working towards your goals.
Recognizing that birth trauma has wide ranging impacts, we can work with survivors as well as their family members in either individual, couple, or family formats.
Therapy Can Help You
Understand & Process Emotions
Allowing yourself to connect with your emotional experience facilitates trauma processing and allows you to make sense of the range of emotions that you are feeling.
Develop Coping Strategies
Learn practical coping skills to manage anxiety, overcome panic, neutralize anger, and reconnect with your inherent resilience.
Experience Validation & Empathy
Be heard, seen, and understood in a judgment free and empathic environment that appreciates the nuances and impact of birth trauma.
Develop Self-Compassion
Turn self-blame, self-loathing, and the inner critic into understanding and forgiveness to rebuild self-esteem and self-worth.
Release Trauma
Find relief from trauma symptoms such as panic, negative thinking, emotion dysregulation, hypervigilance, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, and isolating.
Strengthen Relationships
Rediscover joy and connection in your relationships by addressing difficulties, enhancing communication, and creating understanding.
Bond With Your Child
Process negative emotions surrounding the birth, release fears and resentments, build confidence as a parent, and develop strategies to enhance the parent-child relationship.
Grieve the Loss of What You Expected
Allow yourself to grieve the loss of your birth plan, autonomy, expectations and what what you dreamed of and deserved in a safe, compassionate, and judgement-free space.
Do not be ashamed of being tired.
Do not be ashamed of being scared.
Do not be ashamed of being human.
– Clarissa Pinkola Estés
Ready to put the past into the past? Reach out to us today!
This part can feel uncomfortable and it’s the first step to finding freedom from your trauma symptoms.
Call, text, or email using the information/form below. Our administrative team will answer any questions you might have and learn how we can help you.
Prefer to book on your own? Don’t want to wait for the office to open? Click the link below to schedule a consultation.
You will then be connected with a therapist for a free 15-minute consultation.
This is a chance for you to meet the therapist, ask questions and learn about their approach so that you can determine if they’re the right fit for you.
Schedule your first therapy appointment and begin your healing journey!