Transform the Story of Birth
45% of new mothers report experiencing birth trauma
Most birth professionals have little or no training on how to support parents or themselves following a traumatic birth
You can transform the story of birth
“I feel like everyone needs one of Farrah’s sessions”. ~ Madison, Manchester NH
Birth Story Medicine ® is a guided process that helps the storyteller (parent or birth professional) find meaning and healing after a difficult or traumatic birth experience.
A difficult or traumatic birth does not always leave physical scars. Birth trauma can happen in any birth and for any person involved in birth. It can leave emotional and spiritual wounds and affect relationships, parenting, and health. Birth professionals may find that a previous traumatic experience affects their work, and parents may find that it causes mistrust in healthcare professionals, stress in relationships, excessive negative thoughts or feelings and worry when preparing to birth again.
Birth Story Medicine® is an innovative narrative counseling approach in which a trained Birth Story Specialist guides the storyteller (parent or birth professional) in a specific and intentional process that helps the storyteller gain awareness and insight, and transform their story of the birth and often of themselves. You do not have to have experienced birth trauma or be diagnosed with childbirth related PTSD to benefit from Birth Story Medicine. As a birth professional, a Birth Story Medicine session with a trained Birth Story Specialist can help you find peace when you have attended a birth that still bothers you. Or perhaps the birth of your own child still holds painful memories that you’d like to tend to. As a birth professional:
Birth Story Medicine was developed by Pam England, a visionary, author, artist, childbirth educator, birth story mentor, storyteller, facilitator and former nurse-midwife. Pam spent decades working with families and professionals developing Birthing From Within childbirth education and Birth Story Medicine, a unique and effective approach to overcome difficult and traumatic birth stories. I learned Birth Story Medicine directly from Pam in trainings over the past 20 years. I am honored to be a Certified Birth Story Listener and facilitator for Birth Story Medicine apprentices under her guidance. To learn more about Birth Story Medicine or becoming a Certified Birth Story Specialist, check out the Birth Story Medicine website. To schedule a training for birth professionals contact me.
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Feel at peace with a birth you attended
Forgive yourself or others in a birth you attended
Better understand or make sense of a difficult or traumatic birth you attended or witnessed
Feel more prepared supporting families with traumatic birth experiences
Be seen and heard in your experience
Change the way you think or feel about yourself or birth
See your work in a more meaningful way
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Frequent negative thoughts or feelings about a birth experience
Difficulty bonding with the baby or breakdown of relationship with partner
Blaming self or others for something that happened in the birth
Excessive worry or concern for upcoming birth
As a birth professional - avoiding or excessive worry about a certain kind of birth (VBAC or home birth transfer)
You are not alone, you do not have to suffer, you can heal.