Rapid Transformational Therapy & Hypnotherapy for Birth Trauma: Healing from your experience
Did you know that up to 1 in 3 mums describe their birth experience as traumatic?
Is this you?
As a midwife I know that while a new baby can be such a joyful time, for some it can also be incredibly challenging, not just physically but also psychologically. And a statistic of 1 in 3 is just so very high - and to think that this may be under-reported as many women will not disclose or report their birth trauma is really quite disheartening.
So if this is you, firstly you are not alone.
There are so many reasons why you may feel this way and what is important to know is that it doesn't matter what your birth looks like “on paper”...what matters is YOUR experience of it.
As a midwife, I’ve cared for women who have had a seemingly normal and ‘straightforward’ birth but will describe their birth as traumatic. And I’ve also cared for women who have had what you would think would be traumatic due to a medical emergency but who don’t experience their birth as traumatic.
Trauma is subjective, personal and is determined by you and no one else.
Some factors that may contribute to birth trauma include…
Medical intervention (for you or your baby)
Feeling out of control
Feeling fearful
Feeling intense pain
Feeling powerless, not listened to or wishes not acknowledged or followed
Feeling unsupported
Inadequate pain relief
Ongoing physical complications post-birth
Feeling like your birth was different than what you hoped it to be or expected
Lack of informed consent
How do I know if I have birth trauma?
For some of you, this may be quite obvious. But for others, maybe not. Particularly if you can relate to having an “on paper” straightforward birth which may leave you feeling confused about your experience or guilty for the way you feel.
Some potential signs of birth trauma include:
Feelings of guilt or shame
Sense of grief for the birth experience you didn’t have
Feelings of anger
Teariness and crying
Low mood
Flashbacks to the birth or nightmares
Avoidance of people, places or situations that bring up the birth
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Difficulty bonding with your baby
Insomnia
Feeling numb or detached
Physical pain
Feeling overwhelmed
Lack of confidence
Rumination on the birth and constant “what if” scenarios
Feelings of fear
Ongoing physical complications.
Moving forward after birth trauma
Sometimes the ‘wounds’ that your birth leave you with stay with you as you try to move forward with your life.
Maybe you would like another child but are hesitant or apprehensive after your previous experience?
Or maybe your family is complete but you have this lingering feeling of heaviness, trauma or not being able to move on?
Whether you are planning on having another baby or not, birth trauma is important to address.
Reframing birth trauma with RTT and hypnotherapy
It’s important to remember that while we can’t go back and change or undo your birth experience, by working with your subconscious mind, we can change the meaning you attach to your birth. We can change how you feel about it and what you believe about it.
By shifting your perspective and reinterpreting the past, you can free yourself from any limiting thoughts, feeling or beliefs that no longer serve you and create a new narrative that empowers you to move forward.
While there are so many valuable resources and modalities for approaching trauma, I work with the power of the subconscious mind through hypnotherapy and RTT.
RTT provides fast, effective and long-lasting results in as little as 1-3 sessions.
And be reassured that my approach is gentle. While I do use hypnotherapy to revisit scenes and experiences from the past, we always do this safely. It’s important to remember that if a traumatic scene does come up for you that you are only reviewing the scene, not reliving it. Sometimes it’s helpful to think of the scene playing on a TV or movie screen. Remember that you are in control, you are safe, the event is in the past and that I’m there with you, creating and holding a safe space for you.
Remember…
Birth trauma is important to address regardless of whether you are planning to have another baby or not.
Yes while it may ‘come to the surface’ when preparing for a subsequent baby and this may be your motivation for wanting to address it, even if your family is complete, it is still worth looking into.
Because wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could move forward with your life, if you could gain a sense of closure around your experience and if you could reflect on your birth without feeling fear, distress or negative emotions.
I’m here to tell you, this is possible.
Start your journey with RTT today
With a background as a midwife I bring insight and perspective that is unique in the hypnotherapy and RTT space. If you are ready to take control of your life and get unstuck from whatever is holding you back, RTT could be the solution you’ve been searching for. You can find out more about what is involved with RTT and book your session HERE.
Alternatively you may like to book a complimentary discovery call so we can chat through the most appropriate path for you.