Holistic Birth
Debriefing
Has your birth left you feeling angry, hurt, like your power was taken from you, or like you weren’t seen, heard or valued?
Have you been left with feelings of anxiety, grief, abandonment, difficulty bonding with your baby, post traumatic stress, guilt or low self worth?
Healing from a traumatic birth begins with having your story heard with compassion, and having your thoughts and feelings validated.
Birth Trauma Can Look Like..
When birth doesn’t go to plan or care providers/those around you acted in a way that has let you down or hurt you, it can be hard to resolve these feelings - especially when everyone around you is telling us to ‘just be grateful to have a healthy baby’.
Feeling disappointed, angry or sad
When pregnancy, birth or anything in your early postpartum period doesn’t go to plan - birth, breastfeeding or bonding with baby, it is so common to feel like a failure or like your body has let you down.
Feeling like you have failed
Experiencing flashbacks, difficulty sleeping or ruminating on events from your birth over and over again are common after experiencing a traumatic birth. This can come from feeling a loss of control or feeling powerless at any point during your birth, or if you felt like your or your baby’s life was in danger.
Being overwhelmed with big feelings
Debriefing with a trained professional can help to address and resolve these feelings - you don’t have to live with them and you can find healing from your experience.
There is no right time to debrief your birth. While some studies show that early debriefing can help to reduce post-trauma symptoms, the right time is when you are ready and when it feels safe in your body. It is never too early and it is never too late.
Who is birth debriefing for?
Birth debriefing can help you if…
You find yourself ruminating on events, going over and over what happened feeling angry, anxious or distressed
The thought of going back to the location of your birth makes you feel anxious or sick
If thinking about your birth leaves a sinking feeling in your belly
You can’t bring yourself to unpack your hospital bags because you can’t face it
You are having nightmares or flashbacks
You can’t talk about your birth without crying
You feel like you failed, like your body has let you down or you have let your baby down
You are pregnant - talking through your previous traumatic birth can be so beneficial so that you can enter your next birth feeling confident and empowered
Had difficulty bonding with your baby and you have lingering guilt because of it
If you had difficulty breastfeeding - you feel guilt or have feelings of failure if you weren’t able to breastfeed
You want another baby but are fearful of giving birth again
You have finished having babies but need to find healing from your traumatic birth to reclaim lost pieces of yourself and process and integrate feelings you might have been suppressing
I understand that it can feel scary to bring up these memories - and I have you so you don’t have to do this alone. There is no “right” time to seek support post birth - I have worked with women from 3 weeks postpartum to almost 10 years post birth. The right time is when you are ready.
So how does birth debriefing work?
The Healing Birth package is structured into three separate appointments:
Initial Consultation (90 minutes)
I invite you to share your story, in however way it wants to come out. There is no right or wrong way for you to do this - all of you is welcome here. I will take notes as you go on points to come back to, but I won’t interrupt your flow. Then we unravel your story, and I help to answer any questions you may have or make sense of what happened and why. Birth sometimes leaves us with questions or gaping holes as to why certain things happened, what it was that actually happened, and what this meant for the final outcome of your birth. I help you to make sense of all of this to help you find new perspectives and understandings or to gain closure.
After our session together, I will send you a summary of all of the things that we discussed so that you will always have the information to refer back to. Often times a lot of information can be overwhelming so this way there is no pressure to try and take it in all at once, and it can be helpful to share with your partner. I will also suggest some writing tools to help you to begin processing your experience.
Timeline Reset Appointment (90 minutes)
Timeline Reset is a hypnosis-like process that takes you deeply into your subconscious mind where all the big emotions left behind after a traumatic event are stored without having to repeat the event. I will guide you to process anger, sadness, fear, hurt, guilt and shame which can help you feel calmer, lighter more confident in moving forward.
This process is optional, but highly recommended to help kick-start your healing journey. It will leave you with some beautiful affirmations to help anchor in the new feelings and learnings.
After you book your initial appointment, I will contact you within 1-2 business days to book in this session for the following week as they are best conducted closely together.
Follow-up Chat (30 minutes)
Finally we will meet for a 30 minute follow-up zoom call for further integration for anything that might come up after our session, usually 2-4 weeks after our last session together. We can chat through anything you like here, from how you feel now about everything that you experienced to anything else that might have come up for you, to how you found the writing tools.
If you would prefer a deeper level of support for further integration and processing I offer an optional support package - please see details below.
The Details
Session Options
In-Home Sessions
If you’re within an hour of Perth CBD I will come to you for the first two sessions, allowing us to conduct our meetings in the comfort of your home. The cost for the in-home sessions is $235. (If you are over 30minutes from Perth’s CBD please book a 10/10.30am session)
Online Session
If you’re further away, we can conduct these sessions via Zoom. Ensure you can minimize disruptions during the Timeline Reset process (about 60 minutes) and have headphones available. The cost for online sessions is $220.
Financial Considerations
If you are experiencing financial hardship, please message me. I understand that finances can be a barrier to receiving the support you need, and I have options available to assist you.
Partner Involvement
Your partner is welcome to attend the sessions as they may have their own feelings about your birth story. If you prefer to have the sessions alone but your partner has questions, a follow-up session with them is available as an optional extra.
If you aren’t sure if this package is for you, or you have any questions, you will find the option to have an obligation-free chat with me over zoom first at the bottom of this page.
Healing Birth Support Package
After a birth debrief, it is common for further feelings to arise or for you to want to delve deeper into your experience. You don’t have to face these feelings alone. If you find that your birth experience is impacting other areas of your life and you would like additional support, I offer a Healing Birth Support Package. This package includes three additional sessions, scheduled fortnightly, tailored to your needs
These sessions can be used for:
Further integration from our initial session.
Reviewing hospital notes.
Support for filing a formal complaint.
Debriefing other births.
Including a session for your partner to debrief.
Discussing how your birth has impacted your mothering experience.
Support in your matrescence journey, addressing challenges like identity, grief, relationship changes, or incorporating sustainable self-care practices.
This is a safe space for you to share and be heard, whatever your needs may be.
Additional Support
I will also be available for Voxer/WhatsApp support during school hours, Monday to Friday, for any questions or clarifications. I can include further therapeutic processes and provide journal prompts to support you on your healing journey.
Package Details
This package is an additional $280 on top of your initial debrief, bringing the total to $500 (or $515 with an in-home initial visit). It includes:
Your initial birth debrief appointments, either in-home or via Zoom.
Three additional one-hour Zoom appointments, scheduled fortnightly.
WhatsApp messaging support between sessions.
Additional tools to support your healing journey.
If you are unsure if the support package is right for you, you will have the option to add it in your follow-up email after your initial session.
Customization and Payment Plans
I can tailor a follow-up package if you need support with a specific area, such as making a formal complaint. If you would like to arrange a payment plan, please contact me.
Why work with me?
I’ve both worked with mothers and babies for the last 14 years as a midwife and nurse, and I’ve also birthed in the system. I’ve seen and experienced first hand how little support there is for new mothers (i.e. fck all) and I really, desperately want to see this change - especially when it comes to birth trauma.
I provide a safe, validating and judgement-free space for you to be able to share whatever is on your heart from this experience so you feel seen and heard.
These sessions are led by you, so we can talk about anything you like - if you feel like your birth or matrescence experience was a rough awakening experience or you are having challenges with your mother-in-law (for example!), we can go there in your session.
Unsure if birth debriefing is right for you?
Lets chat about it.
If you are unsure if we are the right fit for each other or want to chat about it before committing to a booking - please feel free to book in an obligation-free chat below. Not every practitioner will be right for you - and as you are the one sharing a precious part of yourself you have the right to be choosy about who you are sharing it with!
Please note - I am not a psychologist or a qualified counsellor and thus cannot diagnose or treat trauma-related disorders. I am a qualified, trauma-informed nurse and midwife with 14 years experience and have completed further studies in mental health and trauma including my Healing Birth Practitioner certification. I have a deep understanding of the birthing process and the hospital system and with that I can offer unique insights into what has created your birth trauma.
Testamonials
“I can’t believe how relieved I feel already. In fact, I actually caught myself the other day feeling excited about the prospect of another birth! The brain really is magical. I truly didn’t think that was possible and assumed that at best I would just feel sort of neutral about it when the time came.”
- Chloe, NZ.
- Jessie McGarry, Karratha WA
“Hi Emma,
Thank you so much, we are both already feeling so much lighter after speaking with you. The affirmations [from Timeline Reset] have been so helpful, thank you.
Once again thank you so much, for the work you do! I am so grateful to have come across you and to have had our session. You have no idea the impact and difference you have made to our lives. [My baby], [My partner] and I are all better for having met you.
All our love,
BR”
- Sydney, Australia
- Sarah, Perth