Healing from a Traumatic Birth

"As long as the baby is healthy, that's all that matters". We don't agree with this often-quoted statement.

Birth is more than simply a way to get the baby out. It is an incredible and often life-changing event. One that we often spend years thinking about and dreaming of.

So when your birth doesn't go the way you may have hoped it can leave you feeling let down, ripped-off and in many cases - traumatised. Added to that, women who don't have the 'perfect birth' often mention feelings of failure and guilt. 

In one Australian study involving 500 birthing women, one in three women (33%) identified their birth as traumatic.*

According to the Australasian Birth Trauma Association, in Australia, between 15,000 to 30,000 women may suffer irreversible physical birth trauma in the form of pelvic floor muscle and/or anal sphincter tears.

If you experienced a birth that you would classify as traumatic, you are not alone.

And we know that unresolved birth trauma can affect your physical, mental, sexual and social wellbeing.

Lyz Evans, a Titled Women's Health Physio has spent decades supporting women as they heal from a traumatic birth.

She recently released a research paper on the long-term effects of obstetric anal sphincter tears in the International Urogynecology Journal.  In writing this paper, she interviewed hundreds of women and heard just how their traumatic birth affected their entire wellbeing years later.

The Empowered Motherhood Postnatal Program

In the Empowered Motherhood Program, we realised the need for a postnatal program that truly supported women as they healed from birth.

If you are suffering from incontinence, pelvic floor weakness or prolapse we have three bespoke programs that will help you to heal your body and return to exercise in a safe and positive way. 

Our Postnatal programs include:

• A pelvic floor rehab program that is weaved throughout our postnatal week by week program.
• Strong with Prolapse Program for the entire first year of motherhood.
• C-Section Recovery Program for the first 4 months of your postnatal recovery.

Our postnatal programs cover the entire first year of motherhood and include pelvic floor safe postnatal workouts combined with expert education and interviews.

Healing from a Traumatic Birth with Lyz Evans

In this video, Lyz shares a six-step process that you can use to support you as you come to terms with your birth and begin the process of healing unresolved birth trauma.

If you are still experiencing effects from a traumatic birth or need further support to help process your birth, we recommend the following resources:

• Australasian Birth Trauma Association
• COPE - The Centre of Perinatal Excellence
• Gidget Foundation
• PANDA - Perinatal Anxiety and Depression

 We are also here to support you. Please feel free to reach out to us at any time.

Pregnant Again? A note for second time Mums

For many women, a second pregnancy is the chance to “ rewrite” their birth experience.  No two births are the same, so make sure you are open about your hopes for your second birth with your health providers and ensure they are supportive.

Debriefing your birth with a health professional or empathetic friend can help you to process your birth and heal from any birth trauma that you may still be carrying. If you are feeling anxious, a little flat, or a traumatised after your first birth then consider seeing a psychologist or counsellor.

In the EMP Pregnancy Program,  we have expert content on how to heal from a traumatic birth and how to prepare your body physically and mentally for your next birth. These videos will help you to process trauma and be fully informed and prepared for your birth. 

Want a Free 5 Day Trial of the Empowered Motherhood Program?

Physio-Led Exercise + Expert Education for a Strong Pregnancy and Informed Birth

• Want safe workouts for every single stage of your postnatal journey. 
• Want advice from experts you can trust and experienced mums.
• Want workouts for prolapse, pevlic floor and core rehab and c-section recovery?

You're in the right place!

Our Empowered Motherhood Postnatal Program is the most in-depth program ever created. Expert-led, we have programs for the issues that are ignored by other programs.

Test us out with a Free 5 Day Trial on all our memberships!

*Childbirth and the development of acute trauma symptoms: incidence and contributing factors - D K Creedy et al