Theme: Trauma and Healing
Whether the trauma occurs in childhood, during pregnancy, or during birth, it can affect a woman during her childbearing year—and can affect partners, as well. This issue is full of articles that deal with preventing or healing trauma. Beth Barbeau shares a variety of tools, including naturopathic remedies, emotional and energetic support and herbal support among them. Gomer Ben Moshe tells of how a trauma survivor is supported in a c-section and Lori Barklage tells us how to recognize and heal trauma based on her RISE Up program, among others. We also include thought-provoking articles on “Revitalizing Midwifery” by Jasmine Krapf and “Birth Behind Bars” by Mary Ann Lieser, and much more!
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With parenting in Sweden being more inclusive of fathers, this timely piece reports on a study of characteristics of fathers who had previously been sexually abused.
Read more…. Fatherhood Following the Experience of Child Sexual Abuse
Photo by Volkan Olmez
Women can suffer from postpartum depression for a variety of reasons. Using real stories and common sense, Wainer helps us get to the root of some of the causes and how birthworkers can help them. Read more…. There You See It, There You Don’t? Postpartum Depression
Photo by Rudy and Peter Skitterians
Midwives can not only help to prevent birth trauma, but can provide therapeutic healing. Learn about how you can be a valuable support person. Read more…. Breaking the Silence
Photo by Gustavo Cultivo
Working with trauma is not easy. The author discusses how to identify trauma in clients and to work with them to heal their trauma and ours. Read more…. How Recognizing and Healing Trauma Helps Clients
Photos by Dianne Cook
My first pregnancy was low risk. I planned a homebirth with a skilled midwife. As a labor and delivery nurse, I knew full well all my options. My husband and I felt that having the baby at home was the best choice for us. Labor started at exactly 40 weeks. I was fully dilated and… Read more…. Healing from a Homebirth Turned Cesarean
Jennifer Mason—jennifermasonphotography.com
Some women may have deep trauma that requires accommodations within the hospital system to ensure that her care does not trigger the prior trauma. This article discusses how a hospital in Israel handled such a situation for a cesarean and provides a template for doing so. Read more…. Supporting a Sexual Violence Survivor’s Journey to Motherhood: Caesarean and the Early Post-operation Stage
Photo by Johannes Plenio
Subtitled “The work of the subconscious mind and the power of inner awareness,” this article addresses communication with pregnant women to assess dreams, fears (demons), and wishes for the future (desires). Birthkeepers can use this information to better understand the woman, help her work with these issues, and, ultimately, help her birth her power. Read more…. Dreams, Demons, and Desires: The Work of the Subconscious Mind and the Power of Inner Awareness
Photo by Annie Spratt
Read about the essentials of safe motherhood and how they will be the basis for a program in Uganda.
Tricks of the Trade – Issue 130
Photo by Jernej Graj
Editor Jan Tritten shares her story of birth trauma and using it to keep her passion alive. Read more…. Trauma in Birth
Photo by Lukasz Szmigiel
Poetry – The Crowned One by Jane Beal
