Birth Trauma Resolution for Birth Professionals

Birth Trauma Resolution for Birth Professionals

Birth professionals hold a special place in my heart. In 1975 and 1978, I gave birth to my daughters supported by midwives at the Booth Maternity Center in Philadelphia. Those experiences initiated me into motherhood surrounded by love and encouragement.

For over 10 years, I was honored to serve as a birth doula for mothers. During this time, I learned about the powerful inner resources that mothers draw upon when giving birth. I also discovered the profound inner strengths that birth professionals tap into while supporting birthing individuals.

To my dear birth professionals, I offer support and guidance through individual sessions and workshops. Together, we can work to release and clear secondhand trauma, prevent and heal burnout, and learn strategies to avoid energy drains.

How may I support you?

• Did you have a disappointing or even traumatic childbirth experience?

The first step in learning to be fully present for our birthing clients is to be present for ourselves. By finding new meaning in your own birth story and seeing yourself with compassion, you can gain a fresh perspective when caring for your clients during birth.

By experiencing your own birth story in a new way, you will also discover a different way to listen to your clients.

As a result, you will be better equipped with the tools and resources needed to help prevent birth trauma.

• Have you witnessed a traumatic birth with one of your clients?

Transfers and medical interventions can sometimes be life-saving. However, there are occasions when the situation isn’t so clear-cut. Regardless of your experiences, I am here to help you gain a new perspective and work through any troubling thoughts, emotions, or behaviors following a challenging or traumatic birth.

• Are you feeling burnout?

That is normal! Not optimal, but normal.

You may be experiencing thoughts of leaving your profession.

A systematic review published in the European Journal of Midwifery in 2021 emphasized the importance of providing support and guidance for midwives after a traumatic birth.

This support is crucial for promoting mental health and ensuring longevity in the profession.

The same need applies to doulas, labor and delivery nurses, doctors, and anyone else who supports a birthing mother in a professional capacity.

Addressing these thoughts and emotions can free up the energy you need to make the best decisions for yourself, your family, and your clients.

Midwives’ experiences of traumatic births: A systematic review and meta-synthesis