Let's explore what can make a caesarean birth traumatic, and what can make a caesarean birth positive and empowering. With permission, I've used words and phrases from clients and followers that they use to describe their experiences. Undoubtedly, major abdominal surgery is a big deal and takes recovery time. I'd recommend the lovely Divina, C-section coach for support with that. If your birth experience has left you with difficult feelings, you can look to The Birth Trauma Association or Make Birth Better for information and support. Other organisations like AIMS and Birthrights can help you with finding out what you can expect and ask for, as well as for help with writing complaints. You can of course get in touch with me at www.simplynatal.co.uk or on Instagram @simply_natal_healing_birth If you are currently pregnant or planning a pregnancy, my pre-recorded Birth Empowerment Course can help you get ready for navigating the road ahead. https://simply-natal.thinkific.com/courses/birth-empowermentOne thing I know for sure is that giving birth by caesarean is still giving birth, and you are not a failure.

This episode is focused on how we can plan to have our needs met, and how important meeting our physiological and safety needs in birth is.

We deserve more than a 'safe' birth (a birth without trauma) though, so what else can we aim for and plan for? Is that Dream Birth really so far out of reach?

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs can and should apply to birth too.

My Birth Trauma.

I hope you understand that I'm not blaming myself- I'm taking responsibility and that's different. I spent a long time blaming myself and feeling shame and guilt and feelings of failure. Now I can see all the ways in which I was failed by society, by the education system, by the maternity system, by the patriarchal narratives that we internalise as truth. I've moved through that and I'm able to accept responsibility for what I can change, and I suppose that's what I help other people to do as well.

If you are a birth worker, or work with women and birthing people in the perinatal period I encourage you to join my Trauma Informed Birthwork waiting list or If you are planning for the birth you deserve and want to see how you can work with me- check out my link tree here https://linktr.ee/simplynatal

Thank you once again to Catherine Rannus of Belightful music for the use of her track 'Feel Good' from Pure Piano (available on Spotify).

Eek, it's the first episode! And what better place to start than answering the question, what is birth trauma?

If you are not sure if you are experiencing birth trauma, or you need support, you can find useful resources at https://birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/ and https://www.makebirthbetter.org/

If you are a professional working in the perinatal period, please consider investing in Trauma Informed Birthwork, a 5 hour interactive CPD course to help you understand how you can help those you work with and protect yourself.

Join the waiting list https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z4p5b7

Thank you to Catherine Rannus of Belightful Music for providing the beautiful music used in the intro and outro. You can find this track called 'Feel Good' on the Pure Piano album available on Spotify.

Just saying hello, and watch this space. If you would like to suggest a topic for Trauma Talk please get in touch. Sheryl@simplynatal.co.uk