Help with birth trauma
A birth can be medically successful and still be traumatic. Both things are true at once, and the second one is not ingratitude.
What birth trauma looks like
Intrusive images of the delivery room, dread of hospitals, avoidance of anyone else's birth story, guilt about the bond, and a sense that everyone expects you to have moved on because the baby is healthy.
- Emergency caesarean or instrumental delivery
- Feeling unheard or overridden during labour
- NICU or special-care admission
- Haemorrhage or a genuine fear of dying
EMDR after birth
Birth trauma is often single-incident, which tends to reprocess well. Stabilisation comes first, particularly where sleep is broken and support is thin. Sessions are arranged around feeding and childcare where possible.
Thinking about another pregnancy
Many clients come specifically because they want another child and cannot face it. Processing the first birth before conceiving, rather than during pregnancy, is usually the easier route.
Common questions
Is this the same as postnatal depression?+
No, though they can co-occur. Postnatal depression is a mood condition; birth trauma is a trauma response. Both should be raised with your GP or health visitor too.
Can I bring the baby?+
For an intro call, absolutely. For sessions, it is worth discussing — processing work generally needs your full attention.
My partner is also struggling with the birth. Can they be seen?+
Yes, separately. Partners who witnessed a traumatic delivery can develop the same responses.
It counts as trauma
Book a free intro call — you do not have to describe the birth on that call.