Birth Trauma Therapy

Childbirth doesn’t always go the way we expect. For many, the experience can leave emotional, mental, or physical wounds that linger long after delivery. Birth trauma describes moments during labor, delivery, or the postpartum period that felt terrifying, disempowering, or dismissed, even when the outcome was a healthy baby.

What Is Birth Trauma?

Birth trauma can result from medical complications, emergency interventions, feeling unheard, lack of body autonomy, or fear for your or your baby’s safety. It is not only about what happened during birth, but how it continues to affect you afterward.

You are not alone:

• 1 in 3 birthing people report feeling traumatized by childbirth (mmhla)

• 1 in 5 birthing people report experiencing mistreatment during pregnancy or birth (mmhla)

Signs You May Be Experiencing Birth Trauma

• Flashbacks or nightmares

• Replaying birth events

• Avoiding reminders of the experience

• Guilt, shame, or feelings of failure

• Difficulty bonding with your baby

• Irritability, anger, or emotional numbness

• Trouble sleeping or feeling constantly on edge

These reactions are normal. You are not failing as a parent; you are responding to an overwhelming experience that deserves care and support.

Healing and Support

At Riverview Psychotherapy, we offer trauma-informed therapy to help you process and heal. Together, we can:

• Understand your birth experience and its impact

• Reconnect with your body and sense of safety

• Manage anxiety, intrusive thoughts, or hypervigilance

• Strengthen confidence and connection with your baby

Evidence-Based Approaches
We use approaches such as EMDR to help process distressing memories, reduce emotional and physical reactions, and release guilt or self-blame.

Benefits of Birth Trauma Therapy

Therapy can help you:

• Sleep better and feel calmer

• Reduce flashbacks and intrusive memories

• Release guilt and self-blame

• Feel more connected with loved ones

• Restore trust in yourself and your body

Healing from birth trauma is possible. You deserve to feel safe, grounded, and empowered as you move forward.