In this special crossover episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast and The Misconceptions Podcast, Kayleigh and Dvora sit down with Dr. Heather Nixon, an obstetric anesthesiologist, to unpack one of the most overlooked aspects of birth trauma: pain during C-sections and failed anesthesia.

Inspired by Season 2 of The Retrievals podcast, this conversation dives into what happens when patients are told, “you’re not feeling pain,” even when they clearly are. Dr. Nixon shares her professional journey of reckoning with the ways anesthesia has been taught, normalized, and misunderstood in obstetric care, and why communication and validation are just as critical as the medical interventions themselves.

Together, they explore:

• 🩺 The difference between spinal and epidural blocks, and why they sometimes don’t work as expected
• 💔 How dismissing a patient’s pain can lead to long-term trauma, PTSD, and depression
• 🗣 The life-changing impact of trauma-informed communication in the operating room
• 🧠 Why anesthesiologists often haven’t been trained to think about long-term emotional outcomes
• 👩‍👩‍👧 How patients, partners, and even nurses can advocate in the OR when pain isn’t taken seriously
• ✨ What providers can do to shift from “the block is working” to truly believing and supporting their patients

This episode is a powerful bridge between patients and providers, offering education, validation, and a call for systemic change in how we approach anesthesia in childbirth.

Resources & Links

• 🎧 Listen to The Retrievals Podcast (Season 2)
• 💜 Connect with Kayleigh: @thebirthtrauma_mama
  
  
• 🌐 Learn more at Holding Hope Perinatal
  
  
• 🧠 Connect with Dvora and The Misconceptions Podcast
  
  

For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama.

Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services.

Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.