Perinatal Trauma

Perinatal trauma refers to distressing or overwhelming experiences that happen during pregnancy, birth, or the postpartum period—experiences that can leave a lasting imprint on your body, mind, and sense of safety.

This might include a difficult or unexpected birth, medical complications, infertility or loss, feeling unheard or unsupported during labor, a NICU stay, or the emotional weight of adjusting to motherhood when things don’t feel the way you expected. Sometimes the trauma is tied to a specific event, and sometimes it’s the accumulation of stress, fear, or isolation over time.

However it shows up, perinatal trauma can leave you feeling anxious, on edge, disconnected from yourself or others, or like your nervous system just can’t settle.