Birth Trauma Therapy

Birth Trauma Resolution (BTR) therapy is a solution based, therapeutic intervention designed to help alleviate the symptoms of birth trauma and PTSD in a fast and efficient way.

BTR combines the understanding of neuroscience with proven therapeutic techniques in a holistic way. It is scientifically proven to help heal trauma and grief safely, thereby allowing you to be free from the impact and effects of trauma.

What is Birth trauma?

Any physical or emotional distress you may experience during or after childbirth. During the birth, you may feel afraid, helpless or unsupported by those around you. After the birth, you may be left feeling guilty or numb due to events beyond your control. You could even suffer from panic attacks. If this happens, know that you’re not alone. According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 45% of new mothers experience birth trauma—and the effects can continue long after the birth itself.  

Risk factors for birth trauma

There are many factors—both physical and emotional—that can contribute to birth trauma, including:

• A childbirth experience that was not what you hoped

• Birth complications, including a vaginal tear or too much bleeding

• Emergency c-section or the use of forceps or other medical devices

• You or your baby suffering a birth injury

• Your baby requiring medical attention after the birth

• Not receiving the care or support you expected from the hospital staff

Any negative meaning you associate with childbirth can stay with you for a long time. Unfortunately, many parents think they should ignore their feelings and present a happy face to the world. But it’s important to value your emotional health, recognise that your feelings matter, and give voice to your experience. This is the way you begin to heal.

The impact of birth trauma on your life

The myth persists that having a baby is supposed to be a natural, joyous event, so you might find it hard to come to terms with a childbirth experience that wasn’t what you expected. You might be ashamed of your feelings or even fearful of being judged, so you bury your emotions in the hope they’ll go away.

But unresolved trauma doesn’t simply go away. It’s important to examine your feelings to understand why you feel the way you do. Otherwise, these negative emotions can simmer under the surface, affecting your everyday life in big and small ways.

Ways to heal from birth trauma with BTR

• Helping you reframe your experience and give it new meaning

• Building back your confidence to break the trauma’s hold

• Allowing you to engage and connect with other parents

• Giving you back your identity and sense of self

During each BTR session you will be listened to and your experience validated, and together we will create a personalised plan on how to move forward. Using a series of therapeutic techniques, including therapeutic rewind, we will work together to dissolve the strong negative emotions attached to the memory of your birth so you can remember it without experiencing feelings of anxiety or panic.

Together we will then rebuild your confidence and equip you with the resources to get back to your day to day life and relationships symptom free. Many parents report being able to remember more detail about the birth including positive events that may have been forgotten. I can help you to deal with the feelings of anger, sadness, guilt, shame, failure etc, all commonly associated symptoms of a traumatic birth.

Can this support the grief journey and loss?

I can also help you to heal from the repercussions of suffering from a birth trauma including loss. We can use additional powerful tools and techniques to help you move on from feelings such as:

• Loss of a birth dreamed about

• loss of confidence

• loss of feelings of attachment to your baby

• relationship breakdown between you, your child, partner, family members and friends

• help to rebuild a life of emotional wellness with a strong sense of a positive future.

• BTR is also appropriate for the loss of a baby, including miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, and fertility issues. BTR can help with the trauma element of loss enabling you to pass through the stages of grief more easily.