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Birth Trauma Association
PO Box 671
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP1 9AT |
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We have several women (and men) who are
prepared to listen and offer support. They are not trained counsellors
but they do have a willingness to show you that you are not alone.
They have also suffered personal experiences which enable them to sympathise
and understand your situation. All our supporters offer
their time voluntarily and not in any professional capacity. Please email us
if you would like to become a volunteer supporter yourself. Eventually,
we hope funding will support a telephone helpline so we can help
even more people.
Contact other Mums
You can also contact other
mums who
might have suffered in the same way as you (perhaps with a physical
injury from birth or with a problem with baby’s health).
Our volunteer supporters include:
- Abi's first labour ended in an emergency
caesarean, which she found extremely traumatic. She had a successful
VBAC two years ago and is interested in supporting women who
are going through a second pregnancy and aiming for a more
positive experience. Abi is also a trainee doula, based in
Merseyside. You can contact her at mail@motheringinstincts.com
- Ann-Marie developed PN PTSD after the traumatic
birth of her first child (now 10), but symptoms of this did
not appear until her second pregnancy last year. However, due
to a very committed team of Obstetricians, Midwives and a Clinical
Psychologist, Ann-Marie went on to have a very relaxed and
stress free birth. She wants to reassure women that you can
have the birth you want, in many cases. Contact Ann-Marie at annmarie.cunningham@btinternet.com
- Anna is Trainee psychotherapist who has
experienced Postnatal Depression. She is willing to offer
free face to face counselling. Please contact Anna at: annamstorey@gmail.com
- Brian's wife experienced a traumatic
birth with Brian present for the entire process, he is feeling
the effects of the trauma and wishes to speak to other fathers
who are feeling the same way. Contact Brian at bgent@rz.uni-leipzig.de
- Jo had two traumatic births, the first
being forceps and episiotomy with son going to neo-natal
unit, the second being very close to a crash section (daughter
was born vaginally on the theatre table). She had quite
severe PND and PTSD after her children were born. Jo is a
Doula and is very passionate about pregnancy and childbirth.
She is an alternative therapist (aromatherapy, reflexology,
relaxation techniques amongst many), and is willing to
offer these to any woman who need additional support. Email
Jo at: jopowell1@yahoo.co.uk
- Jo had an emergency caesarean, following
a long, distressing, instrumental induction for pre-eclampsia.
She then went on to develop puerperal psychosis, a rare but
serious psychiatric disorder at the far end of the post-natal
depression spectrum, which she believes may have stemmed
from her traumatic birth. Jo is now fully recovered, having
had intensive support from the mental health services, and
would be very happy to support or lend a listening ear to
anyone who has suffered a traumatic birth, particularly anyone
who is or has been experiencing postnatal psychological/psychiatric
problems. Jo can be contacted at j.neale@hotmail.co.uk.
- Julia is happy to have email contact to support
mums who have had traumatic experiences with premature babies.
Julia can be contacted on: juliahames@yahoo.co.uk
- Karen is a psychotherapist and uses hypnotherapy
techniques for detraumatising. She also experienced a very
difficult birth experience in 2002 and is now a HypnoBirthing
practitioner. Karen is based near Brighton and is happy to
offer free face to face sessions. Contact Karen at karen@hypnobabes.co.uk
- Kirsty had a very positive first pregnancy
and soon fell pregnant with a second baby. She had a very
traumatic and quick birth, only lasting 30 minutes. Kirsty
gave birth to a 9lb baby with no pain relief and with no-one
believing she was about to deliver until the head crowned.
The trauma resurfaced during her third pregnancy and at 32
weeks she developed tokophobia and ante-natal depression resulting
in an elective C/S at 37 weeks. Kirsty was seriously ill after
the operation, having lost 70% of her blood and needed 4 units
of blood. Kirsty can be contacted at: kirsty.youngs@yahoo.co.uk
- Lisa is a qualified nurse with a diploma in
counselling who had an extremely traumatic birth with her first
daughter but then had three further and very positive birth experiences.
She is eager to offer support to women currently going through
a difficult time and can be contacted at: lisatanner@tiscali.co.uk
- Martha suffered trauma after birth - PTSD
- and she is happy to offer support for women who wish to share
their experiences. Email Martha marthajesty@yahoo.com or
telephone her on 020-82413483.
- Nick’s fiancée developed pre-eclampsia
which progressed to HELLP Syndrome when being induced. Eighteen
months later they are still coming to terms with both post
natal depression and birth related PTSD. Nick is open to
any form of contact at nick.cook@ntc-europe.co.uk
- Rachel was a younger mum, falling pregnant with her daughter
at 17.
She developed PND after a quick birth which ended
in an episiotomy and ventouse delivery. Rachel is now working
as a doula to help support other mums through birth xrachx@gmail.com
- Rosalind had a long and traumatic
first labour, ending in an emergency caesarean section. As
a result, she suffered tokophobia (fear of childbirth)
throughout her second pregnancy, which she overcame over
time, particularly following a stress-free planned caesarean.
She can be contacted at rosalindconnor@gmail.com.
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Contact other mums
Many women email us asking to be put in contact with women who live
close to them or with women who might have suffered in the same way
as them (perhaps with a physical injury from birth or with a problem
with their baby’s health). In addition, researchers might want
to contact women directly for help in connection with the study they
are carrying out.
If you would like to appeal for help directly to other women, let
us know and we will put your request on this page.
- Have
you experienced Symphysiotomy? This is a
surgical procedure to effect an immediate dramatic increase
in the size of the pelvic outlet to permit delivery of
a baby. The cartilage
of the symphysis pubis (where the pubic bones come together)
is surgically divided in the procedure which can be a life-saver
for the baby. If you would like to others who have experienced
symphysiotomy, please contact Helen at enquiries.
- I'm 25 and have a six year old boy with cerebral palsy, he
was born after a very traumatic birth (my 2nd traumatic birth),
we live in Dartford, Kent and haven't got any other children
as yet and I would like to make contact with other mums in
the same position. Please contact Kelly via enquiries.
- I am 37 and following a difficult delivery am left with bad
vaginal and
uterine prolapses. I have already had surgery, within 18
months of the
birth, and expect to have more operations in the future.
I would love to
chat to others who have developed a prolapse at a young age.
Contact enquiries to
get in touch with Susannah.
- If you would like to make contact with someone else who
has experienced faecal incontinence following childbirth
please email enquiries.
- Trudi would like to meet other mothers
who have suffered PTSD in the Southern area. Contact her
at enquiries.
- Do we have any mums in Northern Ireland?
We have 2 mums looking to find others so please get in
touch with enquiries.
- Lisa is suffering
from Tokophobia (fear of childbirth) and would like
to make contact with other women who have this problem. Contact
Lisa at enquiries.
- Rebecca is suffering from Tokophobia (fear
of childbirth) and would like to make contact with
other women who have this problem. Contact Rebecca at enquiries.
- A couple of mums who have had hysterectomies as
the result of a very traumatic birth experience
have asked to be put in touch with others in the same situation.
Please get in touch with enquiries.
- We have 2 mums who would like to get in touch with other
mums who have had a baby that suffered brain
injury during birth. Please get in touch with enquiries.
- Charlotte's first labour involved a long
and distressing induction
which eventually resulted in a traumatic emergency caesarean.
She
hired an independent midwife for her second birth and despite
doing
everything possible to achieve a home vbac she ended up with
another
emergency caesarean and developed PTSD. Charlotte is happy
to be
contacted by anyone who has experienced a traumatic birth,
especially
women who have gone on to have subsequent traumatic deliveries
despite best-made plans. She can be contacted at: charlotteleonard@gmail.com
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