Healing Birth Trauma

Women who experience birth trauma often feel isolated and misunderstood. Even other mothers—central to a woman’s support network—sometimes can’t really understand, unless they also have experienced firsthand the impact of a traumatic birth.

For women who have feared for their (and/or their baby’s) life during the birthing process—or who were in some other way traumatized—confidence and self-esteem may be at an all-time low. Their body may not feel like a safe place. Bonding with their baby may feel extremely difficult. And parenting with joy and creative ease may seem like an unreachable fantasy.

A woman who has experienced such trauma during the birthing process often experiences feelings of anger, grief, and guilt. She may feel disappointed that the actual birth was not at all what she had planned and hoped for. And while she is grateful that both she and her baby are alive and well (if that is the case), she wishes that things would have gone differently.

She may feel somehow weaker or inferior to women who had a “good birth.” And she may feel reluctant to have more children—fearing that similar traumatic events may once again occur.

A woman who has experienced a traumatic birth may also become depressed and distance herself from friends and family members. She may lose interest in sexual intimacy and feel that her body has betrayed her. She may avoid necessary medical check-ups because they remind her of the traumatic experience.

The Healing Journey

A woman who has experienced birth trauma needs to share her story with someone who will listen deeply and understand her without judgment. She needs to learn how to welcome the full range of her emotions; and see clearly the mental, emotional, and energetic wounding. She needs to be supported in fully releasing the trauma—to heal her heart, womb, and psyche—and reclaim her capacity to parent with confidence and joy.

By working simultaneously on the level of spirit, mind, and body, the birth trauma can be resolved. You’ll then enjoy a new relationship with yourself and your child: intimate and joyful. And can reclaim your ability to parent with loving presence, confidence, and trust.

Where there is constriction, there is also love. May your birth story serve as a balm, may your wounds heal as you tune in with presence, seeing everything with new eyes.

SHARE WITH FRIENDS