October 25, 2025

Louise Webster

How EMDR Therapy Helps Process Birth Trauma

Learn about EMDR's gentle approach to helping the brain reprocess difficult birth experiences and find healing.

Understanding Birth Trauma

Birth trauma can occur when a birth experience doesn't match expectations, feels out of control, or involves medical complications. It's more common than many people realize and can affect anyone, regardless of how their birth looked from the outside. The important thing is how the experience felt to you.

What is EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that helps the brain process traumatic memories. Using bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), EMDR helps move distressing memories from the emotional, reactive part of the brain to where they can be stored as regular memories.

How EMDR Helps with Birth Trauma

After a difficult birth experience, memories can feel vivid and overwhelming. You might experience flashbacks, anxiety about future pregnancies, or feel disconnected from your birth experience. EMDR helps by:

Reducing the emotional intensity of traumatic memories

Helping you process what happened at your own pace

Installing positive beliefs about yourself and your experience

Addressing any guilt or self-blame

Preparing for future births with confidence

The EMDR Process

EMDR sessions begin with creating a sense of safety and establishing coping resources. We then work through the difficult memories at a pace that feels comfortable for you. Many people find that even painful memories become less distressing after EMDR, allowing them to integrate their birth experience in a healthier way.

My Unique Perspective

As a midwife, I understand the medical aspects of birth and the complex emotions that can arise. This helps me provide EMDR therapy that's specifically tailored to birth experiences, honoring both your emotional journey and the clinical realities of birth.

Ready to Heal?

You deserve to feel at peace with your birth experience. EMDR can help you process what happened and move forward with confidence.