The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast Kayleigh Summers

On today's listener series episode, we welcome Lakshmi. Lakshmi is a dentist and also comes from a family with a long history of working in the medical field and a history of birth trauma. She shares about her experience and how having so much medical knowledge and family resources played into her processing what she was experiencing.

On this episode you will hear:
- PCOS
- elective induction
- delivering via forceps
- episiotomy causing a 4th degree tear
- benefits of pelvic floor therapy and continuing challenges with bowel control
- postpartum depression and anxiety
- stigmas and lack of communication
- research on different modes of delivery and how it can effect one's wellbeing

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.

This week we welcome Shatiera Amankrah, owner and founder of Seeds of Hope onto the podcast. Seeds of Hope provides a safe and nurturing environment where people can find the support, guidance, and resources they need to navigate the complexities of the emotional toll of infertility.

What you will hear on this episode:
- Common themes of trauma in infertility
- The "two-week wait"
- Feelings of guilt related to pregnancy after infertility
 - Infertility struggles as a proivder
- Building a supportive community

You can find Seeds of Hope and Shatiera's resources here:
Website: https://www.seedsofhopecc.com/
Instagram: @seedsofhopecc

Guest Bio:
Shatiera Amankrah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in Infertility Counseling and Certified in Perinatal Mental Health. With over a decade of experience in the mental health field, Shatiera has established herself as a trusted advocate and therapist. Her approach is informed by her own personal experiences with infertility, and professionally backed by extensive training in infertility counseling and perinatal mental health.
 
Her private practice, Seeds Of Hope LLC, provides a range of services including individual therapy, surrogacy screenings, donor egg and sperm screenings and consultations, workshops, training for professionals, clinical supervision and consultation.  Shatiera is also well-versed in various therapeutic modalities, ensuring that each client's unique needs are met with the most effective treatment approach.  She is licensed to practice in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
 
Shatiera is a professional member with Resolve, the National Infertility Association and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Mental Health Professional Group (MHPG). She is a professional member of Postpartum Support International (PSI) and Alliance for People Of Color.
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 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.

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.

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.

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.