The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast

Kayleigh Summers
  • 4.9 (95)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Birth trauma is the dark and sometimes scary side of pregnancy & postpartum that no one wants to talk about. But, we're here to change that! I'm Kayleigh, a licensed therapist and birth trauma survivor, determined to bring birth trauma out of the shadows and into the light. When we talk about birth trauma, we take away its power and leave space for healing. Your birth trauma does not need to “happen for a reason." Birth trauma sucks and it’s okay to admit that. Join us as we navigate what it means to heal from birth trauma. You’ll hear from experts in the field as well as others who have experienced birth trauma. Storytelling and education are keys to raising awareness and better understanding how we heal trauma. We don’t do toxic positivity in this space, but you’ll definitely hear some dark humor. You’ll laugh and you’ll cry, but, most importantly, you’ll learn that you’re not alone and that healing is possible. Birth trauma is bullish*it, but your healing is not. 

  1. Ep. 228: Birth Trauma, a High Spinal, and the Power of the Right Care Team feat. Anya

    11H AGO

    Ep. 228: Birth Trauma, a High Spinal, and the Power of the Right Care Team feat. Anya

    On today’s episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, Kayleigh welcomes Anya to share the story of her first birth — a pregnancy that was completely uncomplicated until a cascade of unexpected events in labor led to a traumatic emergency C-section experience. Anya opens up about feeling pressured into surgery, a frightening complication with anesthesia in the operating room, and the terror of feeling unable to breathe while fully conscious. Her story highlights how quickly birth can shift and how important communication, consent, and emotional support are during labor and delivery.  In this episode, we discuss: ✨ An uncomplicated pregnancy that suddenly shifted during labor 💧 An accidental rupture of membranes during a membrane sweep 🏥 Induction with a Cook catheter and Pitocin 💉 Receiving a very heavy epidural and not realizing something was unusual ⚠️ A new on-call OB pushing for a C-section despite earlier progress 😔 Feeling confused, pressured, and unheard during labor decisions 🚨 Being rushed toward surgery without clear explanations 🩺 A frightening complication when anesthesia didn’t work as expected 😨 Experiencing panic and terror after suddenly losing the ability to breathe in the OR 🫁 The moment monitors alarmed and the team realized something was wrong 🤍 The emotional impact of feeling powerless and alone during a medical crisis Anya shares vulnerably about the fear, confusion, and loss of control she experienced in those moments — and how deeply those experiences can shape the way we process birth afterward. Her story is a powerful reminder that trauma in birth isn’t only about what happens medically, but how supported, informed, and safe a birthing person feels throughout the process. We are so grateful to Anya for sharing her story and helping others feel less alone in their experiences. 🤍 For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama. Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services. Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.

    47 min

  2. 2D AGO

    Ep. 227: My EMDR Expereince

    On today’s episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, Kayleigh shifts perspectives and shares her own therapy journey, not as a clinician, but as a client. After surviving a life-threatening birth experience and amniotic fluid embolism, Kayleigh opens up about the role therapy, medication, EMDR, and parts work have played in her healing. This vulnerable episode explores what trauma healing can actually look like years after the initial event and how deeper layers of trauma can surface in surprising ways.  In this episode, we discuss: ✨ Kayleigh’s personal therapy journey after surviving an amniotic fluid embolism 🧠 Why she sought therapy immediately after being discharged from the ICU 🤍 The power of relational therapy and feeling deeply seen in trauma recovery 💊 Navigating postpartum anxiety, health anxiety, and starting an SSRI 🔍 The overlap between health anxiety and OCD-style intrusive thoughts 🧑‍⚕️ How becoming an EMDR therapist changed the way she understood trauma healing 🌀 What EMDR and parts work looked like from the client perspective 🧩 How childhood experiences can shape the way we experience birth trauma 🏥 A surprising connection between childhood medical experiences and feeling unheard during birth 🌙 Processing an early childhood home robbery that fueled nighttime anxiety for decades 👩‍👦 The lingering trauma of nearly leaving her son without a mother 💬 Why talk therapy alone sometimes isn’t enough for trauma healing 🌱 How EMDR helped process trauma that was stored in the nervous system Kayleigh also shares an honest look at what healing can look like six years after trauma,  including the reality that some pieces resolve while others take longer to process. If you’ve wondered what EMDR therapy actually feels like, why trauma responses can appear years later, or why talking about trauma doesn’t always resolve it, this episode offers a deeply personal and insightful perspective. This conversation is a powerful reminder that healing is not linear — and that even therapists need support, care, and space to process their own stories. 🤍 For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama. Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services. Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.

    41 min
  3. Ep. 226 Stillbirth, Infertility, and a NICU Stay With COVID feat. Leslie

    MAR 6

    Ep. 226 Stillbirth, Infertility, and a NICU Stay With COVID feat. Leslie

    On today’s episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, Leslie shares the story of her daughter Cora born via emergency C-section after a full-term pregnancy and the unimaginable grief of losing her shortly after birth. She also opens up about secondary infertility, pregnancy after loss, a traumatic COVID birth, and the long road of healing that followed. This episode is a powerful reminder that grief and trauma can coexist and that both deserve care. 🤍 In this episode, we discuss: ✨ A full-term pregnancy that ended in emergency C-section and stillbirth 💔 Holding, honoring, and saying goodbye to Cora Ann 📦 The impact of compassionate bereavement care and memory-making 🌈 Secondary infertility: IUIs, IVF, and multiple pregnancy losses 🩺 A high-risk pregnancy complicated by subchorionic hemorrhage and COVID 🏥 Delivering at 34 weeks alone due to hospital COVID policies 🫁 NICU separation and leaving the hospital — again — with empty arms 🧠 Postpartum anxiety, trauma triggers, and difficulty bonding after loss 💬 Finding the language for birth trauma and healing through EMDR 🤍 The power of loss-specific support groups 🎈 Honoring Cora each year with intentional remembrance traditions Leslie vulnerably shares what it felt like to barely breathe in the thick of grief and how asking for support, finding trauma-informed therapy, and continuing to honor her daughter has shaped her healing. If you have experienced stillbirth, infertility, NICU trauma, pregnancy after loss, or postpartum anxiety, this conversation will help you feel less alone. We are so grateful to Leslie for honoring Cora by sharing her story with us. 💛 You can follow along with Leslie on instagram: @braving_forward For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama. Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services. Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.

    27 min

  4. MAR 3

    Special Rerelease: EMDR with Dr. Pria Alpern

    ✨ Special Rerelease Episode ✨ In this important conversation, Kayleigh sits down with Dr. Pria Alpern to talk about EMDR therapy and its powerful role in healing birth trauma. If you’ve ever felt stuck in intrusive memories, body flashbacks, or overwhelming anxiety after your birth experience, this episode offers both education and hope. We break down what EMDR actually is, how it works, and why it can be especially effective for perinatal trauma. In this episode, we talk about: 🧠 What EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) actually is 🔄 How trauma gets “stuck” in the brain and nervous system 👁️ Why bilateral stimulation can help reprocess traumatic memories 🤰 How birth trauma uniquely impacts the body and identity 😔 Intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, and triggers after birth 🫶 What an EMDR session looks like and how to know if it’s right for you ⏳ The difference between retelling your story and reprocessing it 💛 Why you don’t have to live in fight-or-flight forever 🌿 Finding trauma-informed support in the perinatal period Why this episode matters: ✨ Birth trauma is real—and treatable ✨ Healing doesn’t require reliving every detail over and over ✨ Your nervous system deserves support ✨ You are not broken—your brain adapted to survive Guest Bio:  Dr. Alpern is the founder of Center Psychology Group. She is an EMDR clinician certified by EMDRIA, the organization dedicated to upholding the modality’s standards. She is also a graduate of the EMDR Clinical Affiliate Program at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies (NIP) Trauma Treatment Center in New York City. Dr. Alpern is an EMDRIA-approved consultant and provides individual and group consultation to EMDR therapists. She the founder of the Manhattan Center for Trauma Studies, where she oversees continuing education trainings focused on EMDR and trauma-informed psychotherapy. Dr. Alpern is an Advanced-level Somatic Experiencing practitioner (SEI). She completed specialized training in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders from Postpartum Support International, and she is a special adjunct clinical professor at Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus, where she earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Rosemary Furman Counseling Center at Barnard College, where she specialized in late adolescence, early adulthood, and trauma. Dr. Alpern holds a B.A. in Psychology and Art History from Georgetown University.  Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Alpern offers trauma-related psychoeducation through her TikTok and Instagram accounts. For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama. Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services. Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.

    42 min
  5. Ep. 225: Placenta Increta & Emergency Hysterectomy After IVF feat. Annie

    FEB 26

    Ep. 225: Placenta Increta & Emergency Hysterectomy After IVF feat. Annie

    In this episode, Kayleigh sits down with Annie to share her powerful story of birth trauma, medical complications, and the long road of postpartum healing. Annie opens up about how quickly plans changed, the fear and confusion that followed, and what it has looked like to process trauma while learning to parent. This conversation is honest, validating, and a reminder that trauma isn’t defined by one moment. In this episode, we talk about: 🤰 A pregnancy that didn’t unfold the way she expected 🏥 Medical complications and rapid decision-making during labor 😔 Feeling dismissed, confused, or out of control in key moments 🧠 How trauma lives in the body long after birth 💔 The emotional aftermath in the early postpartum weeks 🫶 The impact birth trauma had on identity and relationships 🌪️ Anxiety, hypervigilance, and trying to make sense of what happened 🗂️ Revisiting medical records and searching for answers ✨ Finding support through therapy and safe spaces 🌿 What healing has looked like over time This episode's artwork for the reel was done by Annie as a way of processing her experience. You can follow her art page on instagram for more: @abowlerdraws If you’ve ever questioned whether your experience “counts” as trauma, this episode is for you. You are not dramatic. You are not weak. And you are not alone. 🤍 For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama. Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services. Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.

    44 min
  6. Ep. 224: Sharing Your Birth Trauma: Timing, Safety, and Choice

    FEB 24

    Ep. 224: Sharing Your Birth Trauma: Timing, Safety, and Choice

    In this episode, Kayleigh talks about something that comes up again and again in our community: how, when, and whether to share your birth trauma story. From conversations with pregnant friends to posting publicly or presenting professionally, this episode explores navigating boundaries, safety, and connection, without shame. You are allowed to share your story. And you’re also allowed to protect it. In this episode, we talk about: 🗣️ The myth of “trauma dumping” and why your story isn’t too much 🤰 How to navigate conversations with pregnant friends 💛 Offering “what I wish I had known” instead of every detail 🧠 Asking: Is this space safe for my story? 😔 The icky feeling of oversharing—and why it happens after trauma ✨ Replacing shame with self-compassion 🚧 Simple phrases to set boundaries when you don’t want to share 🌍 Sharing your story publicly in a way that feels intentional ⏱️ Why practicing different lengths/versions of your story matters 🛠️ The role of therapy and processing before public storytelling 🤍 Protecting your nervous system while raising awareness Why this episode matters: 🌟 You are allowed to tell your story 🌟 You don’t owe anyone the details 🌟 Boundaries and advocacy can coexist 🌟 Your story deserves safety, care, and intention Whether you’re figuring out how to talk to a pregnant friend or preparing to share your story on a bigger stage, this episode offers practical tools and gentle validation. Your story matters, and you get to decide how it’s told. 🤍 For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama. Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services. Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.

    22 min
  7. Ep. 223: Knowing Too Much: Birth Trauma & NICU as a Physician feat. Nicola

    FEB 19

    Ep. 223: Knowing Too Much: Birth Trauma & NICU as a Physician feat. Nicola

    In this listener series episode, Kayleigh sits down with Nicola, a physician who shares her own experience with birth trauma, placenta previa, a massive hemorrhage, and a terrifying NICU journey with her son. Nicola opens up about what it’s like to be on the other side of medicine, how “knowing too much” can increase anxiety, and the deep loneliness that can come with traumatic birth and a NICU stay. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone navigating birth trauma, NICU life, or the long road of healing afterward. In this episode, we talk about: 🩺 Being a physician and still experiencing profound birth trauma 🤰 A pregnancy complicated by placenta previa and multiple hospitalizations 🚑 A sudden, life-threatening hemorrhage and emergency C-section at 34 weeks 🩸 Massive blood loss, ICU-level care, and the shock of surviving a near-death experience 👶 A premature baby, NICU life, and the fear of sepsis and breathing complications 🏥 What it’s really like to be a parent in the NICU—especially when you understand the medicine 😔 The deep isolation and loneliness that can follow traumatic birth and NICU stays 💔 Grieving the lack of support you hoped for from family and your “village” 🫶 The importance of therapy, community, and building your own support system 🌱 How postpartum anxiety showed up after medical trauma 🤍 Finding healing through connection, support, and time If you’ve ever felt alone in your NICU or birth trauma experience, this episode is for you. You are not weak. You are not overreacting. And you are not alone. 💛 For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama. Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services. Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.

    30 min

  8. FEB 17

    Ep. 222: Partner & Family Trauma

    In this episode, Kayleigh dives into a topic we don’t talk about enough: partner and family trauma after birth. Birth trauma doesn’t just impact the birthing person; it can deeply affect the non-birthing partner and the entire family system. From helplessness in the delivery room to tension in relationships afterward, this conversation explores what we know (and what we’re still learning) about how trauma shows up for partners and what healing can look like together. In this episode, we talk about: 🤝 What partner trauma is—and why it’s not “secondary” 📊 What research says about PTSD rates in non-birthing partners 😔 Feelings of helplessness, guilt, and powerlessness during traumatic births 🧱 Avoidance, shutdown, anger, and “I’m fine” responses after trauma 🔥 “Trauma soup” — when both partners are hurting in different ways 💔 How birth trauma can create distance, resentment, or tension in relationships 🗣️ The mismatch between wanting to talk about it vs. wanting to fix it 👶 Hypervigilance around baby (and birthing parent) after medical emergencies or NICU stays 🌀 Why some partners aren’t traumatized—and how that can feel confusing ⭕ Ring Theory: support in, process out 🛠️ Therapy, transparency, and practical ways to start hard conversations Why this episode matters: ✨ Partner trauma is real and valid ✨ Birth trauma impacts the whole family system ✨ You can both be hurting—and both deserve support ✨ Healing often requires outside help, not just each other To hear our previous episodes on partner trauma, listen to Kayleigh and Steve's joint episodes - 101 and 102. If birth trauma has impacted your relationship, you are not alone. The wedge you feel isn’t a failure—it’s trauma. And with support, understanding, and space for both stories, healing is possible. 🤍 References from this episode: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02646838.2024.2346893#abstract https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11796141/ https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378%2823%2900713-5/fulltext?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35584590/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7179006/ For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama. Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services. Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.

    34 min
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4.9
out of 5
95 Ratings

About

Birth trauma is the dark and sometimes scary side of pregnancy & postpartum that no one wants to talk about. But, we're here to change that! I'm Kayleigh, a licensed therapist and birth trauma survivor, determined to bring birth trauma out of the shadows and into the light. When we talk about birth trauma, we take away its power and leave space for healing. Your birth trauma does not need to “happen for a reason." Birth trauma sucks and it’s okay to admit that. Join us as we navigate what it means to heal from birth trauma. You’ll hear from experts in the field as well as others who have experienced birth trauma. Storytelling and education are keys to raising awareness and better understanding how we heal trauma. We don’t do toxic positivity in this space, but you’ll definitely hear some dark humor. You’ll laugh and you’ll cry, but, most importantly, you’ll learn that you’re not alone and that healing is possible. Birth trauma is bullish*it, but your healing is not. 

Information

  • Creator
    Kayleigh Summers
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    232
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast

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