Twenty years ago I found a study that stated 1 out of 3 birthing parents experience birth trauma. It’s a pretty shocking statistic. As time has gone by, I wondered if the numbers had improved and perhaps we were seeing fewer parents experience traumatic birth?
To answer this and take a deep dive into birth trauma, I invited Kate McReynolds LMHC owner of Root to Rise Counseling onto the podcast. Kate specializes in perinatal mental health and is a mother of two. She is down to earth and gives fantastic support around this topic.
Kate defines what birth trauma is, signs and symptoms someone is suffering from it, how it differs from PMADs, how to recover from birth trauma, and how to prepare for subsequent children after a traumatic birth. Unfortunately the numbers of parents experiencing trauma have not improved. I think this is a really important conversation for you to hear if you are preparing for birth or if you’ve given birth. Kate shares from her personal experiences as a Mom and provides us with an understanding of what support is available to help understand, prevent, and recover from birth trauma.
In this episode you will learn:
- Learn about Kate and what led her to specializing in perinatal mental health.
- A definition of birth trauma.
- In 2003 a study noted that approximately 1 in 3 mothers described their births as traumatic, how birthing parents report their births 20 years later.
- Signs and symptoms someone may be suffering from birth trauma.
- How would birth trauma may present differently than PMADs.
- Who’s most at risk for birth trauma.
- Factors that make birth trauma more likely.
- The lasting effects of birth trauma.
- How to identify and work through your triggers.
- How to start to recover from birth trauma.
- For someone who experienced birth trauma for their first birth, suggestions on preparing for a subsequent birth.
- One final tip/piece of advice Kate would like to offer new and expectant parents.
- Where you can find Kate’s work.
About Kate:
Kate McReynolds is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and mom of two. She is Perinatal Mental Health-Certified, specializing in therapy for prenatal and postpartum support, birth trauma, PMADs, pregnancy loss, and infertility.
Connect with Kate:
Instagram: @the.mom.therapist
Website: www.rtrcounseling.com
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