BIRTH REFLECTIONS

Recent evidence suggests that 1 in 3 experience their birth as in some way traumatic. The word trauma may or may not be something that resonates with you, but however you’re feeling after your birthing experience, you may be left with some questions.

So many factors can contribute to your experience, unpacking these can be extremely beneficial in moving forward through your recovery and early parenting journey. It’s also never too late to address events which may be playing on your mind years down the line

A birth reflection is a supportive conversation that facilitates discussion of events, feelings and reactions. It can promote understanding of the perinatal period, allowing you to process your personal experiences, and can improve long-term mental-wellbeing.

Pregnancy and birth are significant, life-changing events, no matter the specifics.

We are all unique in how we move through the world, including how we move through the perinatal period of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. Two individuals could go through the same experience and come out with very different perceptions of what happened and how it made them feel.

That’s why a birth reflection can be so beneficial. Evidence suggests that a reflective session with a maternity professional at 4-6 weeks postnatal can decrease long-term symptoms of trauma and improve mental well-being. It’s not only for those who feel they have had a traumatic or negative experience, it’s also for those who feel positive or perhaps a mixture of things about their birth.

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Could a birth reflection be for you?

  • You feel glad to be home with a healthy baby but have some questions or lingering memories that don’t quite make sense to you. Maybe you feel it’s difficult to discuss with friends because your experience ‘wasn’t that bad‘. Birth reflection is for anyone who feels they could benefit from a balanced professional ear to bring clarity to their birth narrative.

  • There was an emergency situation during your pregnancy or birth that left you feeling vulnerable, scared or out of control. The perinatal period is so unpredictable, a reflective conversation about what happened and why can be extremely beneficial in helping you move forward.

  • You haven’t thought about your pregnancy and birth for years. Perhaps a new pregnancy or recent events have brought up some memories or emotions that you’d like to talk about. There is no time limit on the benefits of birth reflection, reaching out for support can be a powerful step to prioritise yourself and your well-being however many years have passed.

  • Hyperemesis or another pregnancy condition meant you didn’t have the pregnancy experience you had hoped for. What you expected to be a joyful time may have became a blur of additional appointments and extra tests. Although some of these conditions are common, that doesn’t make them any easier to manage and they can have a long-term impact on your mental well-being. A time of reflection is a great way to process your experience.

  • An unexpected fertility journey or perhaps an experience of pregnancy loss added anxiety to your perinatal journey. Now, you feel it would be helpful to talk through your experiences to support your mental well-being as you move forward.

  • You had a broadly positive experience of pregnancy and birth but maybe you want to understand what happened in more detail. It’s a beautiful thing to discuss positive experiences as well as those that were more difficult.

  • An experience with additional neonatal care meant the postnatal period was not what you were expecting. In these circumstances your own recovery can often take a back seat but once the dust has settled, a birth reflection will allow you time to prioritise yourself and your own well-being in your early parenting journey.

  • The postnatal period was a blur of recovery and adjusting to your new life as a parent, you didn’t even have time to think about your birth experience or reflect on your pregnancy. Now a few months down the line you feel you’re coming up for air and perhaps there are some memories or emotions coming to the surface which you would like to discuss with a balanced professional voice.

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