Guest Blog from Niamh Healy, a fully qualified Birth Trauma Resolution therapists.

Nobody wants to look back on their birth experience as something that traumatised them. Unfortunately, for many people, that’s exactly what it feels like. Traumatic births can be births where something life-threatening happened to either mother or baby. But equally, births that sound straightforward may have been traumatising as a lived experience.

Birth trauma depends on the person’s perception of the experience itself – not what it looked like to anyone else. It can affect fathers/birth partners as well as mothers.

Birth trauma can be caused by someone feeling threatened or fearing for their own or their baby’s life, by miscarriage, stillbirth or severe complications. However, for many it can be caused by other, less obvious, factors such as loss of control, loss of privacy or dignity, uncaring or dismissive attitudes of the people around them, not feeling heard or listened to, lack of information or explanation, or non-consensual medical procedures.

About 30% of parents describe their experiences around the time of birth as traumatic. Only 6-8% of women are diagnosed with birth related PTSD, but it is highly likely that many more are undiagnosed and live with the symptoms, sometimes for many years. Many of these are likely to be misdiagnosed as having postnatal depression as there is some overlap in the symptoms.

Traumatic events before, during or after birth can have long-lasting impacts such as difficulty bonding with baby, high levels of anxiety, relationship issues or affecting decisions to have another baby or not.

What are the symptoms of birth trauma?

A person suffering from birth trauma could have some or all of the following symptoms:

• Intrusive, distressing memories of their birth or antenatal/postnatal experience

• Nightmares

• Flashbacks/reliving the experience

• Hypervigilance

• Anxiety or panic when something reminds them of their birth

• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating

• Outbursts of anger

• Avoiding thinking or talking about birth and avoiding activities or places that remind them of their birth

• Difficulty remembering parts of the birth or antenatal/postnatal experience

• Feeling a disconnect from those who are usually close

• Unable to have or express loving feelings (which can include difficulty bonding with their baby)

• Loss of hope for future

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please remember you are not alone and it’s not your fault - they are a normal response to experiencing a traumatic event.

Just because people can get on with their lives while having these debilitating symptoms, doesn’t mean they have to – now they can get relief with this fast and effective therapy. For some people, it’s like being given their life back as they haven’t felt like themselves due to the trauma.

How does Birth Trauma Resolution work?

80% of people who have experienced a trauma will process it themselves within 4 to 6 weeks. However, for the remaining 20%, their memories of their trauma are stored with the strong emotional responses still attached, which can cause them to react in the same way when triggered. Birth Trauma Resolution (BTR) uses a series of techniques to help the brain to process traumatic memories, removing the stress response - flight, fight or freeze - and to help build confidence and emotional balance moving forward.

Most people have their trauma resolved with all symptoms gone in 2-4 sessions of BTR. However certain situations may require referral on to other professionals.

What can Birth Trauma resolution therapy be used for?

It can be used for any traumatic experiences related to birth or pregnancy or the postnatal period - which can include miscarriage, loss at any stage, premature birth, baby in NICU, any health condition for mother or baby. It can also be used for the trauma associated with difficulties conceiving a pregnancy, assisted conception journeys etc.

BTR techniques can also help prevent anticipatory birth trauma by removing emotional charges from the brain’s negative imagination of birth (which can be caused by previous experiences or simply by hearing traumatic birth stories etc.).

Is there a time limit for BTR therapy?

80% of people manage to process trauma themselves within 4-6 weeks of a traumatic event. However, if you’ve reached that point and symptoms are still there, then it’s time to try BTR. If necessary, within that time period, we could offer a debriefing service.

Typically, parents opt for treatment between 3-24 months after the birth, but BTR works no matter how long ago the traumatic experience was – it has been used effectively years or even decades later.

How long are the sessions?

The first session is typically 1.5 hours and subsequent sessions are about 1 hour.

How many sessions are needed usually?

Typically, 3 to 4 sessions with noticeable benefits after each session.

How often are the sessions?

If possible, sessions are spaced about a week apart for best results.

What happens during the sessions?

We start by using a screening tool to ensure if BTR is the best option, and to determine which treatments in BTR will suit you best. Then we create a treatment plan by discussing your goals.

Most people find it beneficial for us to help them thoroughly debrief their antenatal/birth/postnatal experience with sensitivity and respect. However, with BTR you can share as much or a little of the detail of the trauma as you wish as BTR works with the emotions that are attached to the trauma, not the details themselves. This may be helpful for those who don’t want to verbally express what happened.

Sessions consist of debriefing and validating, breathing techniques, guided relaxation and the rewind technique which removes those distressing emotions away from the memory of the experience. This can relieve most or all of the trauma symptoms. Parents are freed from the tyranny of flashbacks, panic attacks, intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance etc. They often report feeling more like themselves and can bond better with their babies. Depending on the individual situation, other techniques may be used to help prepare for a future birth or reframe the future with positivity leaving them feeling calm and in control. Occasionally the sessions uncover other experiences that have been triggered by the birth experience which can be incorporated into the personalised treatment plan.

Where do the sessions take place?

Usually in your home (within reasonable travel distance), but Niamh can see you in River Holistic in Raheny, D5 on Friday mornings.

What’s the cost?

Prices are currently €60 for 1st session, €50 per session after that for sessions in your home with either Niamh or Mim, and €90 for 1st session, €70 per session after that for sessions in River Holistic Centre in Raheny, D. 5 with Niamh.  

There may be an additional travel charge for travel time greater than 15 mins.

Who else could benefit from BTR therapy?

Birth partners can experience trauma also and can benefit hugely from BTR therapy too.

Who can we not treat with BTR therapy?

Anyone with a history of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder is outside our scope of practice but we can refer on to an appropriate therapist.

If you suffer from epilepsy, we’ll ask you to get a letter from your doctor prior to commencing treatment.

Can I have BTR therapy if I’m taking anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medication?

Yes, they’re compatible with the treatment. If there has been a misdiagnosis where trauma was the core issue rather than postnatal depression or anxiety, there will be a possibility of being able to come off the medication after BTR therapy under the guidance of your doctor.

Who we are:

We are My Bump My Birth My Baby – Niamh Healy & Mim Hanan Moran.

We are both fully qualified Birth Trauma Resolution therapists. Between us we have over 30 years’ experience as antenatal teachers and tutors. Over that time, between us, we have also taught pregnancy Relax Stretch Breathe classes, GentleBirth workshops, baby massage classes, and supported families through breastfeeding counselling.

Contact us:

If you'd like to know more, you can book a call with us with no commitment here https://calendly.com/dublinbirthtraumaresolution to talk to Niamh (or 0868577140, dublinantenatal@gmail.com) https://calendly.com/mimbirthtraumaresolution to talk to Mim (or 0877790293 mimhananmoran@gmail.com.)

Here’s a link to a video we made to help parents understand birth trauma and this therapy: https://youtu.be/UiFhrx-WNEQ