Birthing Gently provides Birth Counseling for pregnant women who are survivors of childhood sexual abuse as well as for women who have had a previous traumatic birth. Having such events as part of their life history can affect a woman’s relationship with loved ones and care providers, contribute to her fears of labor and birth, and affect her ability to attach to her baby. It may continue to cause her to have challenges with breastfeeding and parenting. The counseling approach we use was developed by Penny Simkin. This approach is described in the book, “When Survivors Give Birth: Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on Childbearing Women” which Penny co-authored with Phyllis Klaus

This approach enables us to give practical guidance to reduce symptoms by using containment skills, handling panic, self-talk, grounding, helping a client to express her needs and feelings, planning for tests and birth events, support needs, partner communication and relationship with her caregiver. This counseling aids with preparation for birth, challenges during labor and delivery, breastfeeding and parenting by working with triggers and strategies to avoid them or lessen their effect on the birthing mother.

Counseling is usually broken up into 2 two-hour sessions. For more details please contact us.