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Become a valuable resource in your community restoring those who have lost some part of themselves in birth or postpartum Learn how to listen deeply to a birth story and how to lead compassionate and effective Birth Story Circles & Processes by registering for our one-day Birth Story Medicine workshop
Birthing mothers, fathers, and everyone who witnesses a birth can be uplifted by the mystery and power of birth, and at the same time, be haunted, or even dominated, by feelings of confusion, powerlessness, shame, blame, or regret about a particular moment they feel they failed or were failed. After a birth, parents may initially feel grateful and accept what happened. However, weeks, months or even years later, they may find that doubts and negative feelings erupt. They may try to talk about it, to sort it out, but often can't find a sympathetic ear. Or they may find someone to commiserate with, but shared anger and helplessness don't heal the emotional trauma. Beneath our collective covenant of silence, emotional birth trauma is pervasive. Mothers often feel very alone in this grief because they often receive messages to “get over it,” especially when the baby is okay. When a mother’s heartache over her birth-as-a-mother is frequently discounted, she may stop talking about her grief, but the negative agreements she has made about herself as a woman and mother live on in her parenting, her relationships, and her future births; and her negative beliefs live on in the next generation with the stories she tells her children. Prevent & Heal Emotional Birth Trauma
Emotional birth trauma can be aggravated or prevented depending on the kind of messages a mother internalizes during her prenatal preparation and postpartum reception. More than ever, new parents need Birth Story Circles to resolve their negative birth stories and beliefs. Fathers and other birth companions often need this support as much as mothers do. If you are a childbirth teacher, nurse, midwife, doula, mother, father, or therapist, you are in a prime position to help parents create a self-accepting mindset before labor and to help them find new meaning in their experience after a difficult birth experience. Take this training and learn how to make a difference in one or two hours that will last a life time!
During this workshop, you will: - Learn that birth trauma does not always begin with birth
Recognize predisposing factors and the sources of birth trauma Begin to heal your own birth trauma or grief Experience and learn to lead simple processes with anyone who is mending their birth story
Who can attend?
Mentors, midwives, doulas, therapists; anyone interested in leading BirthStory Circles and Cesarean Healing and Information (CHI).
This workshop is led by Pam England, who was a home-birth midwife when she experienced birth trauma and postpartum depression after the cesarean birth of her son. When she could not find a constructive BirthStory Circle, she earned a Masters in psychology/counseling and began listening to other mothers who experienced emotional birth trauma. Now, she has made healing this often overlooked grief her life's work. She brings fresh insight, awareness, compassion and humor to this subject. This workshop will forever change the way you tell or listen to birth stories, prepare women and their partners prenatally, and guide them during their postpartum return.
7.4 Continuing Education contact hours are available (for a typical one-day workshop—exact numbers may vary depending on hours of workshop).
If you are interested in sponsoring a workshop, click here for more information and contact us.
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