Birth & Perinatal Trauma
I have nearly 20 years of professional experience as a Midwife and Family Nurse.
I am also a mum to 2 boys. I have my own personal experience of birth trauma, which I have processed and healed from.
I am passionate about treating perinatal trauma and also raising awareness about this under-recognised and easily treatable condition. I am trained in Birth Trauma Resolution therapy and am glad to be able to offer this innovative and transformational treatment which is accredited by the Royal College of Midwives and the Human Givens Institute of Psychotherapy. I adhere to a strict code of ethical conduct which requires me to attend regular supervision and engage in continuous professional development.
I have also undergone extensive training in the neuroscience of trauma and am able to tailor each session to your individual needs.
Clients tend to see me for between 3 and 6 sessions to find resolution of their trauma.
What is birth and perinatal trauma?
When we think of trauma, we tend to think about traumatic events, but in fact when people seek help and support for processing trauma, it tends to be help to lessen overwhelming feelings of panic, distress and overwhelm within the body.
Approximately 30.000 women a year experience birth and related trauma in the UK. On top of this a large number of partners and health care professionals also suffer from the negative impact of birth trauma.
A traumatic birth or perinatal experience (during pregnancy, birth or the postnatal period) can lead to symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This can lead to a number of symptoms including ; loss of day to day function, feeling out of control, difficulties attaching to the baby, hypervigilance around the baby or other feelings of numbness or anxiety, amongst others. Research suggests that approximately 3% of women who give birth go on to develop PTSD.
Common Symptoms of PTSD
- Re-experiencing the trauma or traumas as if they are happening now
- Visual or emotional flashbacks
- Nightmares
- Angry outbursts and feeling out of control
- Hypervigilance and jumpiness – feeling “on edge”
- Feeling numb and disconnected
- Feeling very anxious, particularly around the baby
- Low mood, depression, guilt
- Difficulties attaching to the baby
- Hypervigilance and jumpiness – feeling “on edge”
- Traumatic grief
Common Experiences that can lead to Perinatal Trauma
- Experiencing a difficult birth
- Witnessing a difficult birth
- Baby in the NICU
- Experiencing or witnessing procedures where you thought you or someone else might die
- Infant loss
- Intense feelings of shame or dehumanisation
- Severe pain
- Not being believed
- Not being cared for in the way you should have been
- Difficulties in pregnancy
- IVF pregnancy
- IVF not working
- Miscarriage or recurrent miscarriage
- Difficulty breastfeeding
- Traumatic grief
- Physical trauma
- Sexual difficulties following childbirth
Pregnancy and Postnatal Emotional Support
Pregnancy and the postnatal period can bring up lots of feelings of stress, anxiety and low mood. I can offer you a space to explore some of these feelings and support you with transition into parenthood. I specialise in both antenatal and postnatal anxiety and depression, difficulties with changing body image, birth planning, feelings of overwhelm when caring for a new baby, feelings of trauma and loss around breastfeeding, supporting parents who's baby is in, or has been in SCBU.
I specialise in:
- Antenatal anxiety and depression
- Postnatal anxiety and depression
FAQ's
Start your journey with Kirsteen
Feel free to reach out with any questions.