The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast Kayleigh Summers

On this week's listener series, we welcome Brittany. She found out they were pregnant in 2022 after dealing with several early losses. Nearing the end of her pregnancy, Brittany started to notice some symptoms that weren't normal and she was diagnosed with the flu - however, something felt off even after that. They returned to the hospital after she noticed her face was drooping and she was told that she had Guillain-Barré syndrome. Things escalated very quickly from there. Brittany shares her experience navigating a 10+ month healing journey that included learning how to eat, drink, and walk again.

On this episode you will hear:
- Early losses
- Gestational diabetes
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Challenging postpartum
- NICU stay for her son
- 5-month hospital stay
- Re-learning to eat again, drink again, walk

If you have a birth trauma story you would like to share with us, click this link and fill out the form. 
For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @birthtrauma_mama.

Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services.

On this week's episode, we welcome Erica Djossa, licensed psychotherapist and Founder/CEO of Momwell. We discuss Erica's new book - Releasing the Mother Load - and dive into the invisible load that moms and default parents carry, and how birth trauma can further that impact.

On this episode, you will hear:
- The impact of the invisible load on mental health and relationships
- Making the invisible load visible and redistributing responsibilities
- Societal expectations and gender norms
- Pressures to be a perfect mom
- willing vs. unwilling partners
- Values-driven parenting

You can order her new book Releasing the Mother Load HERE!

Guest Bio: 
Momwell was founded by therapist Erica Djossa, MA. Like so many moms, Erica entered motherhood assuming her “maternal instinct” would guide her through any challenges she faced. She had no idea it would be so lonely, isolating, and overwhelming. She found herself struggling with identity loss, the mental load of motherhood, and the pressure to be perfect. Eventually, she had a breakdown that turned out to be a breakthrough–a moment where she realized that she was suffering from postpartum depression. But when she sought help, she was dismissed by doctors who assured her that she just needed more rest. Frustrated, Erica pushed to be taken seriously and finally got the care she needed. Through that experience, Erica realized that moms deserved more. This gave birth to Momwell–a place for moms to seek support at every moment of their journey.
For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @birthtrauma_mama.

Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services.

On this week's listener episode, we welcome Claire from Australia. Early in her pregnancy, Claire started to experience pelvic girdle pain and was in chronic pain for the remainder of her pregnancy. She shares about the role this played in her mental health during pregnancy. As a healthcare worker, Claire was very aware of the urgent medical concerns during her birth which she felt compounded her fear in those moments. After recovery in the hospital and some time at home, Claire recognized she needed some extra care and learned that she had pelvic organ prolapse. She shares about her journey of releasing guilt and seeking support after pelvic organ prolapse.

On this episode, you will hear:
- Pelvic girdle pain early in pregnancy
- Effects of chronic pain on mental health
- Breastfeeding to formula feeding
- Pelvic organ prolapse and pudendal nerve damage
- Seeking mental health support
- Advocacy for proper care and changing providers
- Managing guilt of a birth injury

If you have a birth trauma story you would like to share with us, click this link and fill out the form. 


For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @birthtrauma_mama.

Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services.

On this week's episode, in honor of National Nurse's Day we are discussing the role of the L&D nurse in the prevention and mitigation of birth trauma. As an L&D nurse, you have the power and privilege to change the course of someone's life through the care you provide. Thank you for your tireless efforts in walking with your patients through some of the most challenging experiences of their lives. 

On this episode, you will hear:
- Approaches for preventing and mitigating birth trauma
- The role of debriefing in trauma-informed care
- The role fo acknowledgment in trauma-informed care
- The role of repair in trauma-informed care
- Anecdotal nursing interactions from Kayleigh's birth experience
For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @birthtrauma_mama.

Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services.

On this week's listener series episode, we welcome Kayla to share her story with us. Her first pregnancy and delivery with their daughter was traumatic after developing severe preeclampsia. On Mother's Day 2022, Kayla found out she was pregnant with their son Brooks. At their anatomy scan, Brooks was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, critical aortic stenosis, and several other heart defects that meant he would not survive delivery. With the recent abortion laws in the state of Idaho, Kayla and her family were put in the situation to seek abortion care out of state adding to the already traumatic diagnosis for their son.

On this episode you will hear:
 - Challenges of accessing abortion care in the state of Idaho
- TFMR & navigating abortion care in a restrictive state
- The financial burden of having to travel out of state for care
- Advocacy for reproductive rights and abortion care.

If you have a birth trauma story you would like to share with us, click this link and fill out the form. 
For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @birthtrauma_mama.

Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services.

On this episode, Kayleigh is joined by Emily Oster, Brown University economics professor and Best-Selling Author to discuss her new book, The Unexpected. This book will be a go-to for those in the birth trauma community who  have experienced complications and are able/interested in having more children. Join us as we discuss the importance data plays in conversations with providers, especially after birth trauma.

Guest Bio:

Emily is on a mission to empower parents by providing the data and tools they need to make confident decisions. After getting a PhD in economics from Harvard, she went on to pursue research in health economics and is now a professor of economics at Brown University. As a mom of two, Emily was inspired by her own pregnancy and the lack of clear information to guide her decisions. She decided to use her expertise in reviewing and analyzing data to help other parents navigate these topics. She is a New York Times best-selling author, whose books include Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm. Her next book, The Unexpected, hits shelves in April 2024.
For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @birthtrauma_mama.

Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services.