In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, Kayleigh sits down with Danielle, a therapist and mother of three, to share a story that challenges the narrow ways we often define birth and postpartum trauma.

Danielle’s trauma did not occur during labor or delivery, it unfolded months postpartum, following what was supposed to be a routine surgical procedure to remove a fibroid. Instead, a cascade of medical complications led to a medical emergency, multiple surgeries, bladder injury, and an unplanned hysterectomy that permanently ended her ability to carry another pregnancy.

Already navigating life with three young children, including a baby under one, Danielle suddenly found herself recovering from a major abdominal surgery, managing a catheter for weeks, and confronting the profound grief of losing her fertility without warning or choice.

As both a therapist and a patient, Danielle brings a deeply reflective lens to this conversation, naming the invisible grief that so often accompanies medical trauma, especially when it doesn’t “fit” neatly into recognized categories of loss.

Together, Kayleigh and Danielle explore:

💔 Experiencing traumatic medical complications in the postpartum period
🏥 How a routine procedure can turn into a life-threatening emergency
🩺 Bladder injury, emergency hysterectomy, and long-term physical recovery
🤍 The grief of losing fertility, regardless of how many children you already have
🧠 Recognizing trauma in real time, even as a trained clinician
🫥 Disenfranchised grief and the pain of not “fitting” into traditional loss narratives
🌪 Navigating recovery while still parenting young children
🌱 What healing looked like years later and why trauma can resurface long after the crisis
🧩 How Danielle’s experience reshaped her clinical work and passion for perinatal mental health

This episode offers validation to anyone whose trauma feels invisible, delayed, or difficult to name and serves as a powerful reminder that loss is loss, trauma is trauma, and none of it requires comparison to be worthy of care."

If you'd like to follow along Danielle's journey - check out her instagram: @themendedmotherhoodcollective

Resources & Links

💜 Connect with Kayleigh: @thebirthtrauma_mama
🌐 Learn more at: HoldingHopePerinatal.com

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.