Pregnancy and giving birth
Common reasons for seeking help during pregnancy, that I can support with:
Not being able to enjoy your pregnancy in the way you would like due to anxiety or low mood
Having a history of mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD
Feelings of ambivalence about being pregnant or becoming a parent
Not feeling bonded with your unborn baby
Contemplating pregnancy after perinatal loss eg miscarriage, stillbirth or termination
Considering having a baby after a previous traumatic birth
Coping with a difficult pregnancy journey eg difficulties with conception
Worries about being a “good enough” parent
Concerns about the impact of a baby on your relationship with your partner
Experiencing intrusive thoughts about something bad happening to your baby
Fear of giving birth (this is also called tokophobia)
Pregnancy triggering memories of difficult experiences from your own childhood
Coming to terms with an unexpected or unplanned pregnancy
Common reasons for seeking help with a difficult birth
If you or your partner have experienced the birth of your child as traumatic, you may find yourself:
Avoiding people, places and memories that remind you of the birth
Reliving the birth over and over in your mind
Struggling to bond with your baby
Feeling tense, anxious and on high alert
Having trouble sleeping or experiencing nightmares
Distancing yourself from your partner
Overly worried about something bad happening to your baby
It is important to note that dads and partners can also be impacted psychologically by a traumatic birth. Partners can feel helpless, distressed and impotent as they watch events unfold.
I can support you and/ or your partner to:
talk through your birth story in a safe environment
process the emotions associated with this difficult experience
grieve the loss of the birth experience you didn’t have
manage the physical and psychological impact of trauma