Mama, process your birth. My birth happened so quickly and with babies in the NICU, I never had a moment to stop and reflect on my birth. I actually didn’t do this until a year later when I started working with a counsellor. Which I have found as a great tool for self reflection.
I think talking about or taking time to write down your birth story can be so important for the fourth trimester. Did you know that 30% of women have PTSD from their birth. I did. At the time I didn’t realize or know that’s what was happening. After speaking with my counsellor she was able to help me see how I was affected by my birth experience. In my case I needed to talk about my birth experience multiple times as I had carried so many feelings, hopes and disappointment from the time our twins were born.
Birth can be so unpredictable and the birth plan can be thrown out at any moment depending on the progression of labour, the baby or mama’s stats or the positioning of the baby.
7 reasons why it’s important to process your birth.
- Emotional Healing: Birth can be an intense and often unpredictable experience. Whether you have a positive or difficult birth, it’s essential to process the emotions that arise. Taking time to reflect on your birth experience allows you to work through any trauma, disappointment, or anxiety you may have felt.
- Bonding with Your Baby: Processing your birth experience can help you establish a stronger bond with your baby. Unresolved emotions and trauma from the birth can affect your ability to connect with your baby. By letting go of your birth experience, you can create a more nurturing and positive environment for your baby.
- Improved Mental Health: Unresolved birth trauma or negative feelings about your birth experience can contribute to postpartum depression or anxiety. Talking about and processing your birth can help prevent or ease any mental health challenges.
- Making Informed Decisions for Future Pregnancies: If you plan to have more children, understanding your previous birth experience is crucial. It can help you make informed decisions about future births. You may want to explore different birthing options or seek additional support to ensure a more positive experience.
- Empowerment and Self-Awareness: Reflecting on your birth experience can be empowering. It can help you gain insight into your strengths and resilience, even in challenging situations. It can also increase your self-awareness, allowing you to better understand your own needs and preferences.
- Communication with Healthcare Providers: Processing your birth experience can lead to constructive feedback that you can share with your healthcare providers. If there were aspects of your birth that left you dissatisfied or if you felt unheard during the process, providing this feedback can help improve the quality of care for future patients.
- Celebrating Achievements: If your birth experience was positive and empowering, taking time to process it can be a way to celebrate your achievements and the strength you exhibited during childbirth. It’s an opportunity to relive the joyous moments and share them with loved ones. Mama, if you had a difficult birth, also celebrate how much resiliance and courage you showed for yourself and your baby.
Taking time to reflect on and process your birth experience is an important step in your postpartum journey. By doing so it promotes emotional healing, mental well-being and self-awareness. I think it’s a valuable aspect of the transition into motherhood, regardless of the nature of your birth experience.
