BIRTH TRAUMA HEALING
in-person & virtual COACHINGEvery person deserves to feel proud of their birth experience, no matter what happened. If birth left you feeling lost, confused, broken or not good enough, processing the story can help.
20+ years of trauma-informed birth expertise
SERVICES
Expert Witness Case Reviews
Birth processing can offer relief from:
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Memories, images, thoughts, tastes as smells may invade your everyday life. Anything that reminds you of the birth can trigger the feeling that you are suddenly there again.
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You may experience feelings of disappointment, grief, unmet expectations, anger, sadness, or numbness. Thinking about the birth or things that remind you of the birth can cause flooding of negative emotions.
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For many, unresolved experiences can leave you feeling shut down or even numb. You may experience a. sense of detachment from your body, your baby, others people, or things that once brought you connection and joy.
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While postpartum depression and anxiety are common, for some the onset of symptoms comes from unresolved feelings about how the birth went or the meaning of what happened. Processing the birth can help relieve symptoms or can clarify whether anxiety or depression were in response to the birth and postpartum experience.
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After a difficult birth, many feel like they ‘failed’ at something. It is common to experience vague negative feelings about how the birth unfolded. Our minds want to make sense of why it didn’t go as intended, and we often blame ourselves. Gently sharing these thoughts in a safe place can help relieve the emotional pressure.
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Many have difficulty understanding or processing the birth experience. They struggle to articulate what happened or think about the birth. The memory can feel foggy or far away. By gently inviting the story during our sessions, a person can regain their sense of ownership of the story.
“That was more helpful than the many sessions I had with my regular therapist trying to talk about the birth”
— Michelle, new parent, Oakland
What is Trauma?Emotional trauma can occur when you have an experience that overwhelms your ability to cope
A traumatic event has the following elements:
A feeling of overwhelm
Loss of control
Fear for your safety or the safety of someone you love
An inability to get out or leave the situation
How Common is Birth Trauma?30% of people report that their birth experience was traumatic
Trauma imprints on our memory and our body, getting in the way of everyday life. Unresolved trauma can make a lasting impact, leaving you feeling defeated or broken long afterwards
True healing is possible
The good news is that when an adult experiences an acute trauma, such as birth trauma, processing the experience with an experienced professional can help relieve these symptoms and shift the way the story is held in your memory and body. Unlike traditional therapy, birth trauma processing is intended to be just a few sessions aimed at reprocessing the story and allowing your body to release the impacts of what happened.
Understanding birth trauma healingEven when birth goes ‘medically well,’ many of us are left feeling confused, disrespected, overwhelmed, and even traumatized by the experience. When complications arise, it is common to feel they were unexplained and lingering questions and stressful images remain. There are very few places in our culture to share deeply about our birth experience, and to feel safe, soothed, and seen.
When we take the time to process our birth experience, we transform the memory and release the ways that we hold the tension and fear in our bodies. We get emotional and physical relief from the experience of putting words to our experience. In just a few, brief sessions, the story can transform into one that leaves you feeling proud of yourself and what your body can do.
Rebekah Wheeler
Traumatic Birth Specialist, Birth Processing Coach
ABOUT your coachI have worked as a birth professional for almost 20 years as a Registered Nurse and a Certified Nurse-Midwife. I am also a certified Perinatal Mental Health Counselor and hold a certificate in Trauma Studies. I know that it is possible to heal from a traumatic birth.
Through years of supporting new parents and extensive trauma training, I developed a method of transforming difficult birth experiences and helping people find true healing. In just a few sessions together, you can begin to come through the trauma and re-enter your life feeling whole and confident again.
accreditationsRegistered Nurse (RN)
Certificate in Trauma Studies
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
Master of Science in Nursing (MPH)
Perinatal Mental Health Counselor
Get in touch
Reach out with any inquiries, or to schedule a free connection call. Rebekah will get back to you within two business days.
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