Experiencing birth trauma can leave lasting emotional and physical scars, but it also teaches resilience and strength. In recounting her two traumatic births, the author emphasizes the importance of being prepared, finding your voice and advocating for oneself. Her first birth ended in an emergency surgery, which left her with PTSD and postpartum anxiety due to the lack of mental preparation and consent during the rushed procedure.
Her second birth, although resulting in a stay in the ICU and her baby spending eight weeks in the NICU, felt more empowering because she was able to make conscious decisions and had support to help advocate for her needs. The journey of healing involved therapy, aromatherapy, and supportive communities, allowing her to transform her traumatic experiences into a source of strength and empathy for others facing similar challenges.
The author underscores that while birth trauma is extraordinarily challenging, finding purpose and healing is possible with time and support. She encourages others who have experienced birth trauma to seek help when ready and reassures them they are not broken or alone. Healing journeys are deeply personal and take time, but fostering a support system can make all the difference.
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In April 2016, I became a NICU and preemie mom. My first son had to be born early because I developed severe preeclampsia, which didn’t respond to any help, and so an induction happened at 32 weeks… Here’s some tips I’ve learned, after I became a mom of four preemies, through birth and also adoption!
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Last year I realized I wasn’t reading much for enjoyment anymore. Partly because I always had a personal development or parenting book sitting by my nightstand. Partly because I have impaired vision.
But it made me sad enough I talked with Sam, my husband, about it. He hasn’t had much time for reading lately either. So we decided the best step was to make some time!
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In the past decade it’s been a personal quest of our family to “opt outside” more, and one of my favorites is the 1000 hours outside challenge, which we are doing again this year!
I took this past month off so I could focus on our family, and help find some peace & balance in our lives. Typically December is a rough month because we hit anniversary dates of removal & foster placement in our home for both our adopted children. We have found through some very chaotic trial & error, that having strong boundaries around the holidays serves us well.
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