Processing a Challenging Birth

The impact of a difficult birth can linger, even years later. Here you can process your experience, explore your feelings, and access support in a safe, non-judgmental space.

The Hidden Struggles of New Parenthood

 Stress and overwhelm are very common for new parents. In Australia, research indicates that around 1 in 5 mothers experience perinatal depression and anxiety during pregnancy and up to the first year after birth1. Many parents also face psychological challenges in the postnatal period, and maternal suicide is recognised as one of the leading causes of maternal death in this country2.

Trauma‑informed counselling, including EMDR therapy, can help you process difficult birth experiences, manage intense emotions, and support emotional regulation and connection. Accessible support is not a luxury,  it’s essential for your wellbeing and your ability to care for your baby with presence and safety.

References

  1. Perinatal mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, affect around one in five mothers in Australia during pregnancy or the first year after childbirth. See Perinatal mental health screening and identifying risk of suicide and intentional self‑harm, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mothers-babies/perinatal-mental-health-screening-australia/contents/what-is-perinatal-mental-health-and-psychosocial-s/perinatal-mental-health-screening-and-identifying
  2. Death by suicide is one of the leading causes of maternal death in Australia. See Australia’s mothers and babies: Maternal deaths, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mothers-babies/maternal-deaths-in-australia/contents/summary

EMDR & Birth Trauma: Evidence and What It Means

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence‑based, structured form of trauma‑informed therapy that many practitioners use to help people process distressing memories and reduce the emotional intensity associated with them. Multiple clinical studies have explored EMDR’s effects specifically for women who have experienced a traumatic childbirth.

Emerging research suggests that brief EMDR interventions can help reduce trauma‑related symptoms after childbirth, with participants showing greater decreases in post‑traumatic stress symptoms, flashbacks, and distress compared with usual care1. In one pilot randomised clinical trial, women who received EMDR were more likely to show improvements in post‑traumatic stress symptoms in the weeks after birth than those who received standard care2.

Larger clinical research also indicates that early postpartum EMDR, delivered within the first weeks after a traumatic birth, was effective and safe in reducing symptoms of post‑traumatic stress, and shows promise as a supportive option within postnatal care3.

Together, this research supports the use of trauma‑informed EMDR as a supportive, evidence‑based approach for people working with distressing or overwhelming memories related to childbirth. It is typically delivered as part of a comprehensive counselling process that emphasises safety, pacing, and integration.

References

  1. Chiorino V, Cattaneo MC, Macchi EA, et al. The EMDR recent birth trauma protocol: a pilot randomized clinical trial after traumatic childbirth (2019). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31805778/
  2. Hendrix YMG.A., van Pampus MG., Hofman A., et al. Treatment of traumatic birth experience with postpartum early EMDR therapy (2025).
     https://www.emdria.org/resource/treatment-of-traumatic-birth-experience-with-postpartum-early-eye-movement-desensitization-and-reprocessing-therapy-a-randomized-clinical-trial-american-journal-of-obstetrics-gynecology/
  3. Randomized study on early EMDR after childbirth showing reduced trauma-related psychological complaints: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37439144/

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