Ep 129: Healing Trauma Mamas: How Trauma Can Impact Pregnancy and Birth and Why We Must Heal

Trauma— how does trauma of all types impact or influence your pregnancy, labor and postpartum?   Today’s episode is beautiful, but very serious.  We’re speaking with Midon, who has experienced a long journey of learning about early childhood traumas, and how they greatly impacted her most recent birth.  We’re going to share about the importance of talking about these traumas, not leaving them unattended to fester, which can feel like the easier path.  Now, I always do my best to be up front regarding difficult content so that you can make the choice to listen now, or perhaps save it for later when you feel more prepared or in a safer mental place.  This is very likely an episode that you’ll want to listen to with ear buds if you’ve got young ears around. Starting now, because I’m going to tell you what’s coming.  We will bring up some very triggering topics including growing up in a cult, sexual assault and mention of rape, birth assault and trauma, and alienation from family members.  I know it sounds heavy, and it is, but there is light at the end of the tunnel, and Midon is an absolute joy to speak with.  You’re going to gain so much from what she shares about herself and several clients who agreed to let her share bits of their stories, and even if you don’t relate directly to her experiences, this story has given me a whole new compassionate lens for the experiences of others.    Let’s thank our reviewer of the week, Blessed Momma 0525   And finally, before we head in, here’s something really exciting: This episode was is sponsored by Baby Trend andThe Cover Me 4-in-1 Convertible car seat   I opted to skip the newborn carseat with my second daughter, and this carseat is so unique in that it addresses the number one complaint by experienced mothers: Sun in your baby's eyes. The Cover Me seat is able to do this with its integrated canopy that offers height adjustability, ratcheting coverage, and side sun protection.  The cover me has a usage rating from 4-100 lbs, so you can install it for your infant and adjust it as your child grows from rear facing to forward facing all the way up to belt positioning booster.  It’s got a recline system that allows your child to find a comfortable position and it’s designed to take up a limited amount of space even in the rear-facing position.  And it’s got some super cool features that help make life easier for mom and kiddo, including a no-twist harness indicator, a no-rethread harness, and a comfort cabin, which is its multi-layered padding system, letting your baby or child feel snug and secure.  So go to https://babytrend.com/ossa and use the code CoverMe20 for your new convertible carseat.   Show Notes Midon was born into a cult in 1983 in Missour- her great grandfather was the Patriarch Had barely any memories before the age of 10 She lived in 2 cults, lived there until 18- met her husband and was married 4 months later Midon became pregnant 1.5 years later She’d been told her whole life she’d never have children- because of a bicycle accident (that she had no memory of) She wanted a midwife, but ended up with an OB in the hospital- it was an incredibly traumatic birth- forceps, couldn’t stand up for 9 weeks, broke her tailbone The nurse forced her to keep her eyes open 6 months later she became pregnant and husband ok’d homebirth When she left the cult, she was shunned by her family Her family left the cult, her mom contacted her and wanted to be there- her body held baby in until her mother left It was a quick, 6 hour birth- her midwife was very compassionate She had a great third birth 4th- longer labor- it was a stressful time of life- she wonders how much that impacted her In her 4th pregnancy she began having pelvic issues Her husband then had a vasectomy Midon was legally adopted as an adult They had the vasectomy reversed- Midon became pregnant immediately after She had to find a new midwife- it was the fastest birth yet, 4 hours She became pregnant again- lost