Healing from Reproductive Trauma

If you have experienced trauma during your reproductive journey, from conception through your postpartum recovery, you are not alone. Pregnancy and new parenthood can be fraught with numerous potential distressing situations, such as infertility, pregnancy and postpartum complications, pregnancy losses, and childbirth. It's no wonder that 1 out of 3 parents report their birth experiences were traumatic, and upwards of 40% of new parents can experience PTSD during the perinatal period. Perhaps it was what happened to you that was distressing, and maybe it was how you were treated that created or added to the distress. This can be a difficult time to navigate, particularly if you feel scared, overwhelmed by your symptoms, and isolated and alone. And yet, there is hope for healing! This workbook was written to help you build resilience and navigate difficult feelings. Drawing from empirically validated research and clinical experience, this book will help you educate yourself to further understand what you have experienced, and learn how to manage your trauma reactions. Written with sleep-deprived and traumatized parents and parents-to-be in mind, this book is divided into easy-to-read sections to help you manage your emotions and find validation and reassurance. Chapters begin by helping you identify what reproductive trauma is, what is happening "below the surface" with the brain and body's reactive responses, and the various emotional aspects of these events. The second section focuses on building tangible skills to manage the impact of trauma, including trauma reactions and the influence on relationships and attachment with the baby. The third section provides a map of the future, instils hope around healing, highlights professional treatment options, and explores the complicated decision about future pregnancies. Whether you are preparing for trauma therapy, already working with a mental health therapist, or just starting to explore aspects of your experience, this workbook can provide support wherever you are on your healing journey. Filled with activities and gentle writing prompts, this comprehensive resource is essential for expecting or new parents who have experienced traumatic distress during this time, as well as mental health clinicians and birth providers.

Bethany Warren, LCSW, PMH-C, is an experienced psychotherapist certified in perinatal mental health and EMDR therapy. She has worked with reproductive trauma for over 20 years and is the co-author of The Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood Workbook: The Guide to Surviving Your Emotions When Having a Baby (Routledge, 2022). Find her at bethanywarrenlcsw.com and on IG @bethanywarrenlcsw.

Part I: Reproductive Trauma, PTSD, Grief, and Complex Emotions: Why Are You Feeling This Way? 1. Introduction 2. What is Reproductive Trauma? Why You Might Be Feeling The Way You Do 3. Reproductive Trauma vs Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Your Experience and Distress Matters No Matter the Label 4. Trauma, Grief, and Mood Changes: Sorting Through Your Conflicting Emotions and Feelings Part II: From Surviving To Thriving: How Can You Start Feeling Better? 5. Rescue When You're Drowning: Essential Coping Skills Following a Traumatic Reproductive Event 6. From Surviving to Thriving: Learning Ways to Calm Yourself and Reconnect With Your Body 7. When Your Brain Feels Stuck: Gentle Skills to Help Your Mind Through Trauma Time 8. Support and Telling Your Story: How to Build and Engage the Village You Need 9. The Impact of Reproductive Trauma on Partners and Relationships: How Are You And Your Partner Doing? 10. You Are Your Baby's Best Parent (Even if You're Struggling) Part III: The Future, Complicated Decisions, and Making Plans Again: A Path Toward Healing 11. Looking Towards the Future: Finding Your Way Through Complex Decisions and Subsequent Pregnancies 12. A Path Towards Healing: Hope, Resiliency, and Growth 13. Resources and Support