88 episodes
The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast Kayleigh Summers
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- Health & Fitness
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5.0 • 64 Ratings
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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.
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The Impact of Postpartum Psychosis feat. Kiersten
On this week's listener series episode, we welcome Kiersten to share her story with our community. Kiersten and her husband struggled with infertility and found out they were pregnant in March of 2020 - enter the pandemic. Kiersten was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis in December of 2020. In this episode, she shares about her experience and treatment during that time. Kiersten is currently expecting their second son and shares about her planning and support as she embarks on a subsequent delivery after postpartum psychosis.
On this episode, you will hear:
- Pregnancy and birth during collective trauma
- The impact of isolation on mental health
- Anxiety attacks and delusion
- Harlequin skin change in babies
- Postpartum psychosis
- Subsequent pregnancy and provider changes
- Postpartum support plans
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. -
SOLACE Foundation: Hope After OASIS (Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury)
This week, we are joined by Caroline Stadler and Amanda Prophett from the Solace Foundation. Solace stands for Severe Obstetric Laceration Awareness and Community Support. They raise awareness for obstetric anal sphincter injuries, which occurs in approximately 6% of women in the US annually - about 200,000 women a year. Their goal is to increase awareness and research to help prevent these injuries from happening as well as help in supporting and advocating for those who experience them.
On this episode, you will hear:
- The Solace Foundation
- The stigma and silence related to OASIs
- Challenges in getting proper care and support
- Advocacy, prevention, and education
- Managing infection risk and promoting healing
- Accessing resources and support for postpartum injuries
- The importance of informed consent and provider selection
The SOLACE Foundation website: solaceforwomen.org
Follow SOLACE on Instagram @solaceforwomenorg
Women who would like to join the support groups can email at: caroline@solaceforwomen.org
UK vaginal delivery vs C-section informed consent guide
Caesarean Birth-your baby, your body, your life, your choice
Elephant Circle for birth justice and legal support
Guest Bio:
Caroline Stadler is the SOLACE founder, executive director, and chair of the board of directors. She is a wife and mother to a beautiful daughter and two goldendoodles. Caroline's own experience made her acutely aware of the struggles women face in the recovery of childbirth as well as the lack of resources available. This knowledge ignited a passion in her to bring awareness of these injuries to the public and medical community, as well as strive for the prevention of maternal birth injuries, and provide women with a sense of community and support - using her medical knowledge and connections as a physician assistant to help her mission. She has been fortunate to have found a group of amazing women who share the same passion: to help SOLACE empower women and their families as well as healthcare providers.
Amanda Prophett is the SOLACE Education Chair. She is a wife and mother to a 3-year-old daughter, and 3 rescue pets. Amanda has an MPH in Global Public Health and is Certified Health Education Specialist. She has over a decade of experience in K-12 and higher education. During her final semester of her MPH program, Amanda sustained a 4 th degree tear in childbirth. Amanda has spoken about birth injuries at conferences, developed OASI education materials, and believes that education is empowerment.
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. -
Unexpected C-Section, Missed Moments, & Medical Neglect feat. Katie
On this episode we welcome Katie to share her story. Katie had a fairly "textbook and healthy" pregnancy and had decided that she wanted to have a midwife with her delivery. She scheduled an induction at 41 weeks and found herself having to have a C-Section due to preeclampsia and little communication from her provider.
On this episode you will hear:
- Preeclampsia
- Difficult communication from provider
- Advocating for a gentle C-Section (clear drape)
- Missed moments
- Challenging recovery from C-Section
- Medical neglect from providers
- Home nursing care
- Healing journey
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. -
C-Sections and Birth Trauma: Not One Size Fits All
On this solo episode, Kayleigh is discussing all things c-section. She shares a few different studies highlighting the data on c-sections and PTSD, as well as how they compare to other modes of delivery. Kayleigh also touches on TOLACs and planned cesarean sections after birth trauma.
In this episode:
- Types of C-Sections
- C-Section and birth trauma
- Communication and Support as mitigating factors
- Delivery decisions after birth trauma (TOLAC v. planned c-section)
- C-Sections under general anesthesia
Studies Discussed:
Garthus-Niegel S, von Soest T, Knoph C, Simonsen TB, Torgersen L, Eberhard-Gran M. The influence of women's preferences and actual mode of delivery on post-traumatic stress symptoms following childbirth: a population-based, longitudinal study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2014 Jun 5;14:191. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-14-191. PMID: 24898436; PMCID: PMC4053555.
Orovou E, Iliadou M, Chatzopoulou MT, Dagla M, Eskitzis P, Rigas N, Antoniou E. The Relation between Birth with Cesarean Section and Posttraumatic Stress in Postpartum Women. Maedica (Bucur). 2023 Dec;18(4):615-622. doi: 10.26574/maedica.2023.18.4.615. PMID: 38348064; PMCID: PMC10859197.
Rowlands IJ, Redshaw M. Mode of birth and women's psychological and physical wellbeing in the postnatal period. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2012 Nov 28;12:138. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-12-138. PMID: 23190575; PMCID: PMC3533875.
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. -
CHD Diagnosis, Cath-Lab C-Section, & Infant Loss feat. Carlee
On this week's episode, we welcome Carlee to share her story. Carlee and her husband received a hypoplastic left heart syndrome diagnosis for thier son, James, during Carlee's pregnancy. James passed away at 6 weeks old after being in the CICU, and Carlee has since created the James Doss Memorial Foundation to honor his life while supporting other families who have lost children to congenital heart defects.
In this episode you will hear:
- Preparing for delivery with a devastating diagnosis
- Delivery via cesarean section in a cath lab at the children's hospital
- Making heartbreaking decisions as first-time parents
- Creating the James Doss Memorial Foundation
- Advice for those who are dealing with a CHD (or other) diagnosis
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. -
AFE: A Provider's Perspective with Dr. Saberin
This week's episode is a very special one. To honor AFE Awareness Day, Kayleigh welcomes her very own OB who helped save her and Cal's life during her AFE. Dr. Saberin has been an integral part of Kayleigh's healing both physically and emotionally after her AFE.
On this episode you will hear:
- Dr. Saberin's memory of Kayleigh's birth experience and AFE
- Perimortem C-Section
- Mass Transfusion Protocol
- ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation)
- life-saving emergency hysterectomy
- Impella
- Dr. Saberin's reflection on her own trauma
- Provider trauma and our lack of acknowledgment
- Healing through connection of patient and provider
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.
Customer Reviews
Thank you for this community!
Finding this podcast has given me such a sense of community, in what has otherwise felt like a very lonely journey. I am exactly 9mo pp, and experienced birth trauma with my daughter last July. I am in therapy, and was starting to feel much better, however I recently had a pretty bad relapse when a close friend gave birth. Seeing her experience go relatively smoothly brought up so much grief, and I realized this will most likely be a lifelong struggle. I particularly appreciate the listener stories, and thank you thank you to the brave women who share - it is so impactful. My daughter had the same complication as Lindsey, and was also a full term birth. The way she described the shock of having a healthy pregnancy and baby suddenly turn to a NICU experience made me feel so seen. I am so sad to think someone else out there went through the same thing as us, but it also hurts when your trauma feels invisible to others. Thank you for giving a platform to this seemingly unpopular topic, and hopefully it can help take the “othering” out of mothering ❤️
One of my go-to podcasts
From deep conversations on pregnancy and postpartum, to expert insights on prenatal care, pregnancy, and postpartum health, The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast has quickly become one of my go-to podcasts.
Highly recommend
This podcast has helped me so much in working through my own “birth accident”. I wouldn’t be where I am now in my healing journey if it wasn’t for the amazing work that Kayleigh is doing. Forever grateful!