After Birth Trauma

Rhiannah Pohlman
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Alternative Health
  • Updated Weekly

A podcast for mothers navigating life, pregnancy and birth after birth trauma. This podcast is here to help you stop the spiral of wondering what if it happens again and start preparing for what comes next with clarity, confidence and calm. We will explore the nervous system, your mindset, your body and birth to help you heal, restore your body and make confident and informed decisions about your next chapter. Whether you’re pregnant already, just thinking about it or sure you’re one and done, this is the space for you. Let’s uncover the whole story after birth trauma.

Episodes

  1. 6d ago

    How Witnessing Birth Healed Me: Reflections from the Birth Room

    In this episode of After Birth Trauma, I reflect on what it was like to step back into a birth room for the first time since having my own babies, this time as a support person. After my own traumatic birth and years spent listening to the birth stories of other women, witnessing a beautiful, respectful hospital birth became an unexpectedly healing experience for me. I share some of the moments that stayed with me, from seeing trauma-informed communication and consent in action to noticing the parts of birth that brought up emotion from my own experience. I also reflect on what it was like to step into advocacy when it was needed, how our preparation and birth mapping supported that, and what this experience taught me about being invited into someone else’s birth space. In this episode, I share: What it felt like to enter a birth room again after my own birth trauma, this time as a support person rather than the person giving birth How healing it was to witness respectful, trauma-informed maternity care, including consent, communication and a calm birth environment The emotions that came up for me while witnessing pushing after this had been one of the most difficult parts of my own first birth A moment where I stepped in to advocate around foetal monitoring and helped hold a boundary that had already been established during birth mapping My reflections on supporting someone else through birth, knowing whether you can safely hold that role, and whether birth support could become part of my work in the future Ready for some support after birth trauma? If you're pregnant, planning another pregnancy, or trying to work out what support you need after birth trauma, you can book a free Birth Clarity Call with Rhiannah. We'll look at where you're at, what's getting in the way of feeling safe and confident moving forward, and what kind of support might be right for you. 🌹 Book your free Birth Clarity Call:https://links.rhiannahrose.com.au/widget/bookings/birthclaritycall Free Resources Beyond the Birth Plan: For women preparing to birth again after birth trauma.https://rhiannahrose.com.au/beyond-the-birth-plan The First Birthday Survival Guide: Support for navigating the emotions and triggers that can come up around your baby's first birthday after a difficult or traumatic birth.https://rhiannahrose.com.au/survival-guide Stay Connected After Birth Trauma with Rhiannah Pohlman Website: https://rhiannahrose.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhiannah_rose If this episode helped you, follow After Birth Trauma wherever you listen to podcasts and share it with another woman who might need this conversation. After Birth Trauma is for education and general information only and does not replace individual medical, psychological or healthcare advice. If these episodes bring up anything for you and you are struggling there are places to reach out to for help and crisis support. • PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): 1300 726 306 | panda.org.au • Gidget Foundation: 1300 851 758 | gidgetfoundation.org.au • Parentline: 1300 30 1300 (7 days, 8am - 10pm) • Pregnancy Counselling Link: 1800 777 690 | https://www.pcl.org.au/ • Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support) Please reach out to any of these services for confidential support. Your wellbeing matters, and help is just a call away.

  2. Oct 4

    Understanding What Happened: Consent, Communication & Birth Trauma

    In this episode of After Birth Trauma, I explore how informed consent, communication and trust can shape the way we experience birth and how we make sense of a traumatic birth afterwards. I unpack some of the systemic issues that can contribute to birth trauma, not to create more fear, but to help you better understand what happened and feel more informed and empowered moving forward. After birth trauma, it can be easy to replay your experience, question the decisions that were made and wonder whether you did something wrong. I talk about the impact of the language used during birth and postpartum, why true informed consent needs to begin long before labour, and the role trust and continuity of care can play in how safe and supported we feel. If you're preparing to give birth again, I also share practical ways you can approach your care differently and begin building a team where you feel heard, respected and involved in your decisions. In this episode, I share: What informed consent actually means and why conversations about risks, benefits and alternatives need to begin during pregnancyHow to use the BRAIN acronym to explore your options and make more informed decisions about your careHow clinical language and the way you're communicated with during birth and postpartum can influence how you understand your experienceWhy validation matters after birth trauma and why we don't always need to find a positive spin on what happenedThe role of trust, continuity of care and supportive relationships in preparing for another pregnancy and birth Ready for some support after birth trauma? If you're pregnant, planning another pregnancy, or trying to work out what support you need after birth trauma, you can book a free Birth Clarity Call with Rhiannah. We'll look at where you're at, what's getting in the way of feeling safe and confident moving forward, and what kind of support might be right for you. 🌹 Book your free Birth Clarity Call:https://links.rhiannahrose.com.au/widget/bookings/birthclaritycall Free Resources Beyond the Birth Plan: For women preparing to birth again after birth trauma.https://rhiannahrose.com.au/beyond-the-birth-plan The First Birthday Survival Guide: Support for navigating the emotions and triggers that can come up around your baby's first birthday after a difficult or traumatic birth.https://rhiannahrose.com.au/survival-guide Stay Connected After Birth Trauma with Rhiannah Pohlman Website: https://rhiannahrose.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhiannah_rose If this episode helped you, follow After Birth Trauma wherever you listen to podcasts and share it with another woman who might need this conversation. After Birth Trauma is for education and general information only and does not replace individual medical, psychological or healthcare advice. If these episodes bring up anything for you and you are struggling there are places to reach out to for help and crisis support. • PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): 1300 726 306 | panda.org.au • Gidget Foundation: 1300 851 758 | gidgetfoundation.org.au • Parentline: 1300 30 1300 (7 days, 8am - 10pm) • Pregnancy Counselling Link: 1800 777 690 | https://www.pcl.org.au/ • Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support) Please reach out to any of these services for confidential support. Your wellbeing matters, and help is just a call away.

  3. Sep 27

    The Postpartum Trap: Are You Going Into Your Next Pregnancy Already Depleted?

    In this episode of After Birth Trauma, I explore what I call the postpartum trap, the spiral that can happen when the physical demands of pregnancy, birth and postpartum collide with sleep deprivation, nutritional depletion, birth recovery and an already-stretched nervous system. I share my own experience of struggling with postpartum depression, anxiety and PTSD symptoms while also being significantly depleted physically, without understanding how connected those pieces were. If the thought of another pregnancy or postpartum brings up a feeling of “I cannot do that again,” I want to help you look back at what was actually happening beneath the surface and use that information to prepare differently next time. In this episode, I share: My experience of physical depletion, nutritional deficiencies, birth trauma and mental health struggles during postpartum What I mean by the “postpartum trap” and how pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, recovery and sleep deprivation can create a perfect storm Why your physical health, mental health and nervous system cannot be treated as completely separate parts of your recovery How the realities of postpartum, from forgetting to eat to caring for a baby while recovering from birth, can keep the cycle of depletion going How looking back at what was difficult last time can give you valuable information to prepare for pregnancy, birth and postpartum differently in the future Ready for some support after birth trauma? If you're pregnant, planning another pregnancy, or trying to work out what support you need after birth trauma, you can book a free Birth Clarity Call with Rhiannah. We'll look at where you're at, what's getting in the way of feeling safe and confident moving forward, and what kind of support might be right for you. 🌹 Book your free Birth Clarity Call:https://links.rhiannahrose.com.au/widget/bookings/birthclaritycall Free Resources Beyond the Birth Plan: For women preparing to birth again after birth trauma.https://rhiannahrose.com.au/beyond-the-birth-plan The First Birthday Survival Guide: Support for navigating the emotions and triggers that can come up around your baby's first birthday after a difficult or traumatic birth.https://rhiannahrose.com.au/survival-guide Stay Connected After Birth Trauma with Rhiannah Pohlman Website: https://rhiannahrose.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhiannah_rose If this episode helped you, follow After Birth Trauma wherever you listen to podcasts and share it with another woman who might need this conversation. After Birth Trauma is for education and general information only and does not replace individual medical, psychological or healthcare advice. If these episodes bring up anything for you and you are struggling there are places to reach out to for help and crisis support. • PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): 1300 726 306 | panda.org.au • Gidget Foundation: 1300 851 758 | gidgetfoundation.org.au • Parentline: 1300 30 1300 (7 days, 8am - 10pm) • Pregnancy Counselling Link: 1800 777 690 | https://www.pcl.org.au/ • Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support) Please reach out to any of these services for confidential support. Your wellbeing matters, and help is just a call away.

  4. Sep 20

    Your Nervous System After Birth Trauma: Why You Still Feel You're Going Crazy

    In this episode of After Birth Trauma, I explore what can happen to your nervous system after a traumatic birth and why you might still feel unsafe long after the experience itself has ended. I break down the different nervous system states and how understanding what is happening in your brain and body can help take away some of the shame and confusion around the way you’re feeling and reacting. If you find yourself anxious, restless and on edge one day, then exhausted, numb or shut down the next, there may be more happening beneath the surface than you realise. I walk you through Polyvagal Theory, your window of tolerance and some of the ways trauma can change how your nervous system responds to everyday stress. I also share simple vagal toning practices you can begin using to support regulation and help your body experience more moments of safety and connection. In this episode, I share: How my own experience of flashbacks, panic attacks and physical symptoms led me to learn about trauma, the brain and nervous system The three main nervous system states and what fight or flight, freeze or shutdown, and calm and connected can look like in everyday motherhood Why your window of tolerance can become narrower after birth trauma and how this can affect the way you respond to stress Simple vagal toning practices to support your nervous system when you’re feeling anxious, hypervigilant, flat or shut down How small, consistent practices can help you build greater nervous system regulation and a sense of safety over time Ready for some support after birth trauma? If you're pregnant, planning another pregnancy, or trying to work out what support you need after birth trauma, you can book a free Birth Clarity Call with Rhiannah. We'll look at where you're at, what's getting in the way of feeling safe and confident moving forward, and what kind of support might be right for you. 🌹 Book your free Birth Clarity Call:https://links.rhiannahrose.com.au/widget/bookings/birthclaritycall Free Resources Beyond the Birth Plan: For women preparing to birth again after birth trauma.https://rhiannahrose.com.au/beyond-the-birth-plan The First Birthday Survival Guide: Support for navigating the emotions and triggers that can come up around your baby's first birthday after a difficult or traumatic birth.https://rhiannahrose.com.au/survival-guide Stay Connected After Birth Trauma with Rhiannah Pohlman Website: https://rhiannahrose.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhiannah_rose If this episode helped you, follow After Birth Trauma wherever you listen to podcasts and share it with another woman who might need this conversation. After Birth Trauma is for education and general information only and does not replace individual medical, psychological or healthcare advice. If these episodes bring up anything for you and you are struggling there are places to reach out to for help and crisis support. • PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): 1300 726 306 | panda.org.au • Gidget Foundation: 1300 851 758 | gidgetfoundation.org.au • Parentline: 1300 30 1300 (7 days, 8am - 10pm) • Pregnancy Counselling Link: 1800 777 690 | https://www.pcl.org.au/ • Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support) Please reach out to any of these services for confidential support. Your wellbeing matters, and help is just a call away.

  5. Sep 13

    My Approach to Healing After Birth Trauma: The REBIRTH Methodology

    In this episode of After Birth Trauma, I share my approach to healing after birth trauma and preparing for birth again through my REBIRTH Methodology. After a traumatic birth, it can be easy to focus on trying to control what happens next time. But healing and preparing for another birth goes deeper than researching birth positions, choosing the “right” care provider or writing the perfect birth plan. In this episode, I share about the nervous system, physical foundations and birth preparation that can help you move from feeling terrified of birth to feeling informed, empowered and supported. In this episode, we talk about: Why birth trauma is about the felt experience, not simply what happened during your birthHow nervous system regulation can help you cultivate safety in your body after traumaThe cycle of physical depletion through pregnancy, birth and postpartumWhy preparing for birth means looking beyond your ideal birth outcomeHow Birth Mapping can help you prepare for the twists and turns birth can take Resources: The Birth Map by Catherine Bell Ready for some support after birth trauma? If you're pregnant, planning another pregnancy, or trying to work out what support you need after birth trauma, you can book a free Birth Clarity Call with Rhiannah. We'll look at where you're at, what's getting in the way of feeling safe and confident moving forward, and what kind of support might be right for you. 🌹 Book your free Birth Clarity Call: https://links.rhiannahrose.com.au/widget/bookings/birthclaritycall  Free Resources Beyond the Birth Plan: For women preparing to birth again after birth trauma. https://rhiannahrose.com.au/beyond-the-birth-plan  The First Birthday Survival Guide: Support for navigating the emotions and triggers that can come up around your baby's first birthday after a difficult or traumatic birth.  https://rhiannahrose.com.au/survival-guide  Stay Connected After Birth Trauma with Rhiannah Pohlman Website: https://rhiannahrose.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhiannah_rose  If this episode helped you, follow After Birth Trauma wherever you listen to podcasts and share it with another woman who might need this conversation. After Birth Trauma is for education and general information only and does not replace individual medical, psychological or healthcare advice. If these episodes bring up anything for you and you are struggling there are places to reach out to for help and crisis support. • PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): 1300 726 306 | panda.org.au • Gidget Foundation: 1300 851 758 | gidgetfoundation.org.au • Parentline: 1300 30 1300 (7 days, 8am - 10pm) • Pregnancy Counselling Link: 1800 777 690 | https://www.pcl.org.au/ • Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support) Please reach out to any of these services for confidential support. Your wellbeing matters, and help is just a call away.

  6. Sep 13

    The Missing Piece to Healing & Preparing for Birth After Trauma

    In this episode of After Birth Trauma, I share about the missing piece in healing and preparing for another birth after trauma: rebuilding self-trust. After a traumatic birth, it can be easy to look outside yourself for the answers. You can research birth plans, care providers and every possible option, but making those decisions from fear or a trauma response is very different from making them from confidence and clarity. In this episode, I share how people pleasing, perfectionism, intuition and the relationship you have with your own body can shape your ability to trust yourself again. In this episode, we talk about: Why rebuilding self-trust is essential when preparing for birth after traumaHow “good girl” conditioning, people pleasing and perfectionism can show up in birthHow to recognise, listen to and respond to your intuitionThe small everyday ways you may be unintentionally chipping away at your self-trustHow rebuilding trust in your nervous system, body and birth can help you feel ready, even when you can’t control how birth unfolds Ready for some support after birth trauma? If you're pregnant, planning another pregnancy, or trying to work out what support you need after birth trauma, you can book a free Birth Clarity Call with Rhiannah. We'll look at where you're at, what's getting in the way of feeling safe and confident moving forward, and what kind of support might be right for you. 🌹 Book your free Birth Clarity Call: https://links.rhiannahrose.com.au/widget/bookings/birthclaritycall  Free Resources Beyond the Birth Plan: For women preparing to birth again after birth trauma: https://rhiannahrose.com.au/beyond-the-birth-plan  The First Birthday Survival Guide: Support for navigating the emotions and triggers that can come up around your baby's first birthday after a difficult or traumatic birth: https://rhiannahrose.com.au/survival-guide  Stay Connected After Birth Trauma with Rhiannah Pohlman Website: https://rhiannahrose.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhiannah_rose  If this episode helped you, follow After Birth Trauma wherever you listen to podcasts and share it with another woman who might need this conversation. After Birth Trauma is for education and general information only and does not replace individual medical, psychological or healthcare advice. If these episodes bring up anything for you and you are struggling there are places to reach out to for help and crisis support. • PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): 1300 726 306 | panda.org.au • Gidget Foundation: 1300 851 758 | gidgetfoundation.org.au • Parentline: 1300 30 1300 (7 days, 8am - 10pm) • Pregnancy Counselling Link: 1800 777 690 | https://www.pcl.org.au/ • Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support) Please reach out to any of these services for confidential support. Your wellbeing matters, and help is just a call away.

  7. Sep 13

    My Birth Stories | Induction, interventions, 4th degree tear, emergency c-section

    In this episode of After Birth Trauma, I share about my own journey through two very different birth experiences, from a traumatic first birth to the choices I made the second time around, and what I learned along the way about healing, support, and purpose. This episode is for anyone who has felt like their birth experience changed the course of their motherhood in ways they didn't expect. I open up about the reality of navigating a subsequent pregnancy after trauma, the messy and non-linear nature of recovery, and how I found meaning in my story without needing it to be a redemptive birth experience. My hope is that you walk away feeling less alone, and more equipped to advocate for the support you deserve. In this episode, I talk about: My first birth: a long induction, an unexpected 'emergency', and the physical injury that followedThe gap between what I was told in hospital and what I later discovered about my own bodyHow years of unaddressed symptoms led to a mental health crisis, and finally, the right referralsChoosing a different path for my second birth, and what it meant to feel prepared and supported this timeWhy healing doesn't always mean a "redemptive" birth, and how I made peace with that Ready for some support after birth trauma? If you're pregnant, planning another pregnancy, or trying to work out what support you need after birth trauma, you can book a free Birth Clarity Call with Rhiannah. We'll look at where you're at, what's getting in the way of feeling safe and confident moving forward, and what kind of support might be right for you. 🌹 Book your free Birth Clarity Call: https://links.rhiannahrose.com.au/widget/bookings/birthclaritycall  Free Resources Beyond the Birth Plan: For women preparing to birth again after birth trauma: https://rhiannahrose.com.au/beyond-the-birth-plan  The First Birthday Survival Guide: Support for navigating the emotions and triggers that can come up around your baby's first birthday after a difficult or traumatic birth: https://rhiannahrose.com.au/survival-guide  Stay Connected Website: https://rhiannahrose.com.au/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhiannah_rose  If this episode helped you, follow After Birth Trauma wherever you listen to podcasts and share it with another woman who might need this conversation. After Birth Trauma is for education and general information only and does not replace individual medical, psychological or healthcare advice. If these episodes bring up anything for you and you are struggling there are places to reach out to for help and crisis support. • PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia): 1300 726 306 | panda.org.au • Gidget Foundation: 1300 851 758 | gidgetfoundation.org.au • Parentline: 1300 30 1300 (7 days, 8am - 10pm) • Pregnancy Counselling Link: 1800 777 690 | https://www.pcl.org.au/ • Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support) Please reach out to any of these services for confidential support. Your wellbeing matters, and help is just a call away.

  8. Sep 10

    Welcome to After Birth Trauma

    After Birth Trauma is for mothers navigating life, pregnancy and birth after birth trauma. Whether you are healing from what happened, pregnant again and determined for things to be different, or wondering how you’re ever supposed to trust your body or the healthcare system again, you’re in the right place. We will explore the nervous system, your mindset, your body and birth to help you understand how to regulate, rebuild self-trust, restore your body and make informed decisions about your next birth. This isn’t about sharing traumatic birth stories or redemption births, but about how you can trust yourself no matter what unfolds.

  9. Aug 18

    After Birth Trauma: Trailer

    After Birth Trauma is for mothers navigating life, pregnancy and birth after birth trauma. Whether you are healing from what happened, pregnant again and determined for things to be different, or wondering how you’re ever supposed to trust your body or the healthcare system again, you’re in the right place. We will explore the nervous system, your mindset, your body and birth to help you understand how to regulate, rebuild self-trust, restore your body and make informed decisions about your next birth. This isn’t about sharing traumatic birth stories or redemption births, but about how you can trust yourself no matter what unfolds.

  • 9 Episodes

About

A podcast for mothers navigating life, pregnancy and birth after birth trauma. This podcast is here to help you stop the spiral of wondering what if it happens again and start preparing for what comes next with clarity, confidence and calm. We will explore the nervous system, your mindset, your body and birth to help you heal, restore your body and make confident and informed decisions about your next chapter. Whether you’re pregnant already, just thinking about it or sure you’re one and done, this is the space for you. Let’s uncover the whole story after birth trauma.

Information

  • Creator
    Rhiannah Pohlman
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Rhiannah Pohlman
  • Show Website
    After Birth Trauma

You Might Also Like