Expert: Birth Trauma Support, Carla Sargent of Voice For Parents

Motherness

Today’s episode is about birth trauma – whether you’ve experienced it first hand, are on your journey of healing, or want to support fellow mothers on theirs – this episode is for all of us.

I’m joined by the founder of the non-profit charitable organisation, Voice For Parents. Carla Sargent helps mothers and whanau to heal their hearts after broken births and quite simply, the mahi she does is incredible.

I’ve wanted to speak to Carla since the inception of Motherness, knowing that the saying of ‘at least you’ve got a healthy baby’ that we all hear or sometimes dish out is often well meaning but invalidates and dismisses the right and deservedness we all have to a positive and empowering birthing experience. To many of our mothers, that sentiment that you should be grateful for the physical safety of themselves and their baby is detrimental and it fails to recognize the lasting effects birth can have on the Fourth Trimester and well beyond the immediate postpartum period.

The message from today’s episode is clear: however you feel about your birth, your feelings are valid. If today raises some feelings of trauma about your own birth, please reach out for help.

Resources:

• Voice For Parents website & Facebook
• Carla's Birth Trauma survey report
• My Birth Story
• Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering by Dr Sarah Buckley
• Spinning Babies
• Kelly Spriggs Facebook page
• Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin
• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
• Where the Heart Is by Carla Sargent
• Birth Trauma Support NZ Facebook group

Support services:

• Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa
• Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757
• Lifeline - 0800 543 354
• Parent Help - 0800 568 856
• Anxiety Phone Line - 0800 269 4389
• PlunketLine - 0800 933 922
• For a referral to Maternal Mental Health please contact your midwife or GP
• Mental Health Crisis services (for emergencies only)

This episode discusses perinatal depression and anxiety, and mentions suicide which may be triggering for some people, so please take care while you’re listening and take a break if you need to.
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