Workplace Options’ Post

It is rare, to hear about an empowered birth. It is more common to hear one of trauma. Choice being taken away. Disempowerment. Rushed procedures. Feeling disrespected. Not listened to. Anxiety. Fear. Feeling like an inconvenience. Reduced to a body in a bed, room, the humanity within them not seen or respected. The transition that is about to be made, not respected. Feeling unsafe. I realise of course our work, makes us more prone to hear these stories. But these stories we hear not just in our work. In other circles too. Given that everyone starts with birth…this is not OK. We know Motherhood, Parenthood, is hard enough, without coming from a place of trauma. We know learning to be a little person in the world, is overwhelming, overstimulating enough, without parents feeling like they are trudging through treacle as they learn how to parent whilst navigating trauma themselves. It isn’t ok. Something needs to change. Yesterday the Birth Trauma Inquiry came out from Theo Clarke MP which calls for an overhaul of maternity services. It could not have come soon enough. Because if everything starts with birth, surely, surely, this is a vital piece of the puzzle to changing the mental health of our whole society by preventing parents from developing perinatal mental health difficulties and children struggling with their own mental health as they grow? We think so. If any of the themes that come out of the report this week, as you flick through your social feed affect you. If you have been touched by trauma, it is likely they will. As a team this is what we do. We are here to help and serve you in a way that you may have needed for some time. We are sorry for your loss of the birth experience you hoped for. Please reach out for support if you need it. All our love, Laura and team LGT x For the full report, see the comments below. Birth Trauma Association (UK) Make Birth Better #birthtrauma #makebirthbetter #psychotherapist #maternalmentalhealth #paternalmentalhealth #yorkshire #huddersfield #uk #empoweredbirth

As we celebrate the joy of new beginnings, let's remember that some parents face unexpected challenges. Birth trauma, whether physical or psychological, can have lasting impacts on health and wellbeing. Let's offer empathy and support to all parents navigating these difficult experiences. Learn more about Birth Trauma in Birth Trauma Awareness Week: https://lnkd.in/gmHba83V

TW : Birth Trauma The last thing I want to be part of my story of becoming a mother is my birth trauma. But alas here I am, and as we spend so much of our lives at work, and given the dire findings of the UK birth trauma inquiry that found one in three women who have a child have a traumatic birth, this feels like an important place to share. I gave birth to my son Quique in August 2022 and had a very tough, and ongoing, recovery. He is now 21 months old and brings me joy each and every day. And so the maternity crisis in the UK is a very tangible and personal thing for me, and sadly, tens of thousands of other mothers and folk. I was diagnosed with PTSD following my birth. I was grateful to receive the support and care I did to process, and very slowly move towards a place that made it easier to cope and live every day life. But that journey remains one I am still on and with it the deepening desire that we collectively need to get to a place where birthing folk receive respectful, ample and well communicated care. I know that a critical lack of care, of tenderness, of clarity and resource were all factors that contributed to my PTSD. The hardest realisation is that things didn’t have to be that way. My birth may not have gone differently but I’m still left believing that inevitably had I received more consistent care, communication and resource during my birth it likely would have. So trauma will always be part of my journey into motherhood - a moment so precious yet, in 2024, a moment where basic needs are consistently not being met. And worse, repeatedly neglected, diminished and ignored. Returning to work in a previous role was not an easy process. It wasn’t for such a wide range of reasons, but this was an added layer - my physical and mental health was still suffering and suddenly I had to step back into navigating all of these things whilst business was carrying on as usual. So my ask is to take the time to look out for mothers returning to work. Parental leave should not be a policy on paper, a tickbox check-in email every few months, a clause in contracts. Instead, care, empathy and true understanding should feed our interactions and our processes, our ways of working and conversations. Having a child irrevocably changes one’s world, and we need to work harder to understand the intricacy of that for each individual who experiences it, and work with them to ease the transition. We likely can’t impact the desperate systems change needed to ensure people have safe, dignified and - dare I dream - positive births. But we can take small steps to effect change in our orbits. We can take a moment to consider how we all look out for and support birthing people to find their feet once again in the workplace and ensure we build better, safer and more comfortable working environments that we all deserve to exist in each and every day.

What was your birth experience as a mother? What are your thoughts on the 12 recommendations made by the birth trauma inquiry? I would have liked to see a 13th - A national database of support services available for mothers whose babies are stillborn, born premature or are disabled so that they can access vital mental health support. There was nothing like this when my premature twins were born, one with congenital disabilities and almost 20 years later not much has changed. We need to do better. https://lnkd.in/e5Han7jw

The Impact of Baby Loss in the UK Baby loss is a deeply painful experience that affects many families across the UK. According to the Office for National Statistics, in 2019, there were approximately 2,131 stillbirths, translating to a rate of 4.0 per 1,000 births. Additionally, the Miscarriage Association estimates that around one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage, highlighting the prevalence of this heartbreaking experience. For parents who have faced such loss, the emotional toll is immense. The grief of losing a baby, often referred to as an “angel baby,” can be overwhelming and long-lasting. This grief is compounded by societal expectations and the often unspoken belief that parents should move on quickly and focus on future pregnancies. At Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy, we understand the profound impact of infant loss. Our specialist counsellors are here to provide support and guidance to families navigating this difficult journey. If you or someone you know is grieving the loss of a baby, please reach out. No one should face this alone, and we are here to help. #BabyLoss #InfantLoss #MentalHealth #GriefSupport #BristolCounselling #Psychotherapy #FamilySupport https://lnkd.in/eycezbWH

Uncover the powerful connection between birth experiences and motherhood anxiety. Learn how your birth story impacts your parenting journey, with up to 17% of new parents experiencing birth-related PTSD. Discover practical steps to address birth trauma and find support. Whether you had a difficult delivery or NICU stay, understanding this link is crucial for your well-being as a mother. https://lnkd.in/gwyt3UfG

I’m on my way to Michigan to facilitate an all-day workshop called: Empowering Young Parents to Prevent and Heal Birth Trauma. This issue hits so close to home for me. Many aspects of the birth of my daughter led to a challenging entry into matrescence, also known as the transition into new motherhood. What if I told you that many of the mental health challenges your clients are facing raising kids could tie back to trauma that took place during pregnancy, labor, and delivery that was never acknowledged? Some symptoms of birth trauma in parents: - Avoiding the child or reminders of birth - Trouble bonding and attaching with child - Anxiety and fears related to the baby/child's wellbeing - Panic attacks - Mental health problems that arise each year close to the child's Birthday - Rage and irritability - Intrusive thoughts/memories - Nightmares/sleep disturbance - Hyperarousal or hypoarousal (fight/flight/freeze/fawn) - Depression/anxiety - Psychosis (rare, but more common in those with hx of C-PTSD) Some symptoms of birth trauma in infants/toddlers: - Intense, frequent crying without known cause (colic) - Difficulty feeding, sucking, or latching - Increased or decreased muscle tone - Respiratory problems - Uncontrollable movements or seizures - Heightened startle response - Delays in development - Sleeping too much or too little Say "workshop" below if you want to stay informed about my upcoming virtual workshop on how to prevent and heal birth trauma. #socialwork #childwelfare

This week is Birth Trauma Awareness Week. A vital week in the calendar, to raise awareness of an area that needs more support, for the benefit of Mothers, parents, children and therefore our whole society. Because everything starts with BIRTH.💛 Post-birth, so much emphasis is on the baby… Absolutely, we need to make sure our babies are safe but mothers often completely neglect their own needs. And whilst there is more support out there for Mothers than there ever has been it is still not enough. Mothers’ needs are still not seen as important. Yet if a Mother is well, a child is well as a byproduct. We need to move from child first/mother first to ‘both needs are of equal importance’. 💛 What is Birth Trauma? I could give you the official definition here…but you can google it. Trauma is so much more than any definition could describe. It is personal. It is more about your experience of an event than an event itself. It is a culmination of your physical experience of the birth, your internal experience, how you felt, how you were treated, your prior experiences and beliefs leading up to birth. We cannot define ‘trauma’ by the experience. The Mother must be the one to define their trauma. If you are left psychologically and emotionally affected in a negative way by your birth experience. It was traumatic. If no matter how much time passes by since your experience, you still remember it like it happened yesterday, can see the experience in your mind, feel it, smell it, almost touch it. It was traumatic. If it is negatively impacting on your experience of parenthood now. It was traumatic. You get to decide if your birth was traumatic. Not a therapist. Not a psychiatrist. Not a GP. Not a midwife. Not a health visitor. Not your family or friends. YOU. If trauma is part of your story I'm so truly sorry for the loss of a hoped-for experience you never got. Laura x If any of the things you see or read this week resonate with you and are challenging for you. If you are looking for support in this or any area of Maternal Mental Health. Do reach out and either we as a team at Laura Greenwood Therapy can help, or we can signpost you to other services which can too. You do not need to be alone in this. #birthtraumaawarenessweek #birthtrauma #traumasupport #maternalmentalhealth

As we observe Birth Trauma Awareness Week, it's crucial to highlight an often overlooked issue: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childbirth. Many people, including healthcare professionals, may not realize that the birthing process can lead to PTSD. This week is an important opportunity to raise awareness and encourage women to share their stories, breaking the silence that so many feel pressured to maintain. It's important to acknowledge that birth trauma can affect any woman, regardless of age, ethnicity, or social class. While sexual assault survivors are more susceptible to birth trauma due to reawakened memories, the majority of women experiencing birth trauma have no specific background that predisposes them to it. The nature of the birth itself, whether very long, very short, or involving complications like emergency cesareans or postpartum hemorrhage, can also contribute significantly. One of the most impactful factors is how women are treated during labor. Feeling ignored, talked down to, or left in the dark about what is happening can exacerbate the trauma of the experience. In 2025 I will propose new legislation that focuses on birth trauma and perinatal loss, as well as increasing resources for labor and delivery staff at Texas hospitals. By raising awareness and fostering open conversations, we can work towards better support and understanding for all women affected by birth trauma. Let's bring this important issue to light and ensure that every woman receives the compassionate care she deserves. #BirthTraumaAwarenessWeek #BirthTraumaAwareness

Learn more about Post Partum PTSD and why it matters. "Although childbirth is usually considered a uniformly happy event, some women may experience a traumatic childbirth. Some will go on to develop a postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition we know very little about. We study the psychological and biological mechanisms underlying the various mental health trajectories in the wake of a traumatic delivery and what allows some women to be resilient and even grow psychologically. We are also interested in learning the ways in which distress in the mother may influence child development." https://lnkd.in/gVCxiUEr