Healing from Birth Trauma
Becoming a parent is an exciting and rewarding journey, but it can also be overwhelming. Childbirth can be traumatic (including for the non-birthing parent) —emotionally, mentally, or physically. Birth trauma isn’t just about physical injury; it can also refer to emotional distress caused by unexpected events during labour and delivery, even when “everyone was okay”. If you’re a new parent feeling overwhelmed by your birth experience, therapy can be a helpful way to heal and move forward.
What is Birth Trauma?
Birth trauma refers to difficult or stressful experiences during childbirth. This trauma can happen for many reasons, such as medical complications, unexpected outcomes, or feeling like you lost control of the situation. Some examples of birth trauma include:
- A medical emergency during labour or delivery
- Feeling unsupported or unheard by your medical team
- Unexpected or emergency C-sections
- Physical trauma such as tearing
- Emotional distress from a difficult birth experience
- Unexpected separation from your baby
- Time in the NICU
These experiences can lead to feelings of fear, sadness, anxiety, or even PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). It’s normal to struggle with these feelings, especially when you’re adjusting to life with a new baby.
Signs of Birth Trauma
If you’re feeling overwhelmed after childbirth, it could be a sign of birth trauma. Common signs include:
- Constantly thinking about or reliving the birth experience
- Avoiding things that remind you of the birth, like certain places or conversations
- Feeling anxious about having another baby or future births
- Difficulty bonding with your baby
- Trouble sleeping, nightmares, or feeling on edge
These feelings are common and don’t mean you’re a bad parent. Birth trauma affects many new parents and you don’t have to face it alone.
How EMDR Helps with Birth Trauma:
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy that helps people heal from trauma by helping to process painful memories and emotions in a healthier way. EMDR can help new parents heal from birth trauma by:
- Healing Painful Memories: EMDR helps people process and reduce the emotional pain linked to traumatic birth experiences, making them less upsetting.
- Changing Negative Thoughts: After a traumatic birth, people may feel guilty or think they are not good enough. EMDR helps replace these negative thoughts with healthier ones, like “I did my best” or “I am a strong parent.”
- Releasing Physical Tension: Birth trauma can lead to physical stress, like tension or pain. EMDR helps people release this physical discomfort.
To explore how therapy can help you heal from birth trauma, book a free consultation below:
Erica Wesley 