Our Blog

We talk openly about emotional and mental health.

Would you like to contribute a post? email us at: [email protected]

How to support a healing birth after a traumatic one better birth birth trauma birth trauma recovery tbr 3 step rewind traumatic birth Sep 21, 2022

Being pregnant again after a traumatic birth is for many parents an anxious time.

It might also be the first time that they have experienced trauma symptoms, even though their birth may have been years ago.

Often parents recover well after a difficult or traumatic birth experience, busy...

Continue Reading...
The Biggest Taboo birth injury birth trauma birth trauma recovery perineal tears prolapse traumatic birth Jul 21, 2022

This week has been Birth Trauma Awareness week in the UK and the theme this year was birth injury.

I am grateful to BTA UK, Australasian BTA and Make Birth Better who have collaborated to publish the results of their survey which echoes what TBR College has heard from parents with birth injuries...

Continue Reading...
Traumatic Birth Recovery’s response to the full Ockenden report 30th March 2022 birth trauma ockenden report traumatic birth Mar 30, 2022

Reading the full Ockenden report today has been tough going. My heart goes out to all the families impacted by the Shrewsbury & Telford maternity trust’s poor care.

I was also, however surprised by the report.

I had expected there to be more damning evidence blaming midwives who were...

Continue Reading...
Have we been asking parents the wrong question? birth trauma birth trauma recovery tbr college tbr practitioners trauma therapy traumatic birth traumatic birth recovery Jun 06, 2021

The other day I was having one of those conversations that happens from time to time on social media about 'who' is best placed, most qualified, most appropriate to support parents who are struggling after a traumatic perinatal event. 

There was lots of hemming and hawing from a fellow...

Continue Reading...
Have we been saying "Thank you" when we really mean "Sorry"? anxiety college depression emotional wellbeing perinatal pna pnd post natal prenatal recovery therapy trauma traumatic birth Jul 14, 2020

As the NHS turns 72 this month I think we need to talk about where it is heading, what our expectations are and how we will become increasingly disappointed as service users if we don’t wake up to painful home truths about the way we are cared.

 

What the Covid19 pandemic has shown us...

Continue Reading...
Am I allowed to share what I know? anxiety college depression emotional wellbeing perinatal pna pnd post natal prenatal recovery therapy trauma traumatic birth Jul 12, 2020

When I first started teaching the TBR 3 Step Rewind technique to other birth professionals a fellow hypnotherapist messaged me. She said ‘Do you know if midwives and doulas are actually allowed to use the rewind technique? I don’t want you to get into trouble for teaching it if...

Continue Reading...
Mental health: The quiet revolution anxiety college depression emotional wellbeing perinatal pna pnd post natal prenatal recovery therapy trauma traumatic birth Jul 12, 2020

What is this quiet revolution in perinatal mental health?

Anyone who knows me will tell you I have a real fascination for the history of health and medicine, particularly when it comes to birth and maternal health. I love learning about common medical practices, beliefs and outcomes of...

Continue Reading...
Birth trauma: The tip of the iceberg? anxiety college depression emotional wellbeing perinatal pna pnd post natal prenatal recovery therapy trauma traumatic birth Jul 12, 2020

I am very thankful that there is more awareness of birth trauma now than what there was even 5 years ago. The internet, social media and the contribution of blogger’s real life experiences of birth trauma have really helped many women to recognise what they were experiencing. They can begin...

Continue Reading...
Have we normalized a bad birth experience? anxiety college depression emotional wellbeing perinatal pna pnd post natal prenatal recovery therapy trauma traumatic birth Jul 05, 2020

Have we normalised a bad birth experience?

When I originally met Sarah* she had come to see me for treatment for anxiety. I had no idea when she booked the appointment that she was a new mum, and had a baby just 5 months beforehand, she didn’t mention this in her original email. She had...

Continue Reading...
'My baby hates me!' anxiety college depression emotional wellbeing perinatal pna pnd post natal prenatal recovery therapy trauma traumatic birth Jun 12, 2020

As strange and even ridiculous as this statement sounds it’s a more common thought to occupy the mind of new parents than you might imagine.

It might be tempting if you hear a parent say this, to mollify them. ‘Don’t be silly’ you might say. Or ‘that’s daft, a...

Continue Reading...
Perinatal health: The one thing we should all know anxiety college depression emotional wellbeing perinatal pna pnd post natal prenatal recovery therapy trauma traumatic birth Jun 07, 2020

If there is one thing we should all know about perinatal mental health, it’s this:


I consider myself to be very lucky. I love working with parents because I know first hand how unhelpful perinatal anxiety is to the bonding process.

I know how damaging everyday anxiety is to our sense of...

Continue Reading...
3 Immediate ways to support a person who has recently experienced a traumatic birth anxiety college depression emotional wellbeing perinatal pna pnd post natal prenatal recovery therapy trauma traumatic birth Jun 05, 2020

As a pre & post natal specialist who hold groups for mums and babies you become used to reading the signs of a mum who has had a rough time with her birth. My heart aches for the women who tear up when others talk about their positive birth, or have to leave the room completely. The women who...

Continue Reading...
1 2