Birth and Reproductive Trauma
Therapy in British Columbia
Reclaim Your Birth Story
What is Birth and Reproductive Trauma?
Did your birth story not end up the way you envisioned?
Did plans go sideways?
Do you have negative flashbacks of your labour and delivery?
Are you coping with NICU fears and worries?
Is your fertility journey trapping you in a cycle of hope and disappointment?
Birth and reproductive trauma can leave families feeling confused, shocked, and grieving; the vision in mind feels lost. Birth stories may feel more like horror stories! Reproductive trauma can include fertility struggles, early loss and miscarriage, termination, and pregnancy-related challenges. Trauma related to birth may include preterm labour, NICU experiences, stillbirth and/or late term loss, infant loss and SIDS, and feeding challenges. Unprocessed birth and reproductive trauma may leave you feeling like it is difficult to connect with your baby, like you are dissociated or stuck in time, like you have lost control or a sense of self in the process. This trauma may also have impacts on the decision for future pregnancies, including fear or anxiety about “doing it again.”
How we can help with Birth and Reproductive Trauma
Collaboratively, we work slowly and carefully to re-tell the story: providing language, reclaiming moments, inviting in new ceremony or celebration, and processing the birth or reproductive trauma in a way that makes space for all feelings and experiences. Clients can expect a warm and compassionate experience, where their story is cherished and where, in time, they discover healing.