On this week's listener episode, we welcome Kate. After a relatively uncomplicated IVF pregnancy, Kate went into spontaneous labor at full term and experienced a peaceful labor and delivery at the hospital. After her daughter was born, she suffered a postpartum hemorrhage and 3rd-degree uterine inversion. Kate shares with us her experience of waking up under paralytics and processing her feelings of both fear and gratitude as she navigated healing post-birth trauma.

On this episode, you will hear:
- PCOS, infertility and IVF
- third-degree tear and hemorrhage
- mass transfusion protocol and hypervolemic reaction
- 3rd degree uterine inversion
- uterine artery embolization
- the use of paralytics
- experiencing "final thoughts"

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.

On this week's episode, we have another mini series episode! We are talking all things medical records and debriefs.

On this episode you will hear:
- understanding medical records
- process of requesting medical records
- the importance of debriefs
- empowering patients through effective communication

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.

On this week's episode of our Listener Series, we are joined by Lynn. Lynn shares with us about her infertility journey and fertility treatments during COVID and her long extensive labor with high blood pressure. She had some extended recovery but found herself being readmitted twice during the first week and then had a cardiology consult and was diagnosed with PPCM. Lynn reminds us about the importance of advocating for yourself when something doesn't feel right in your body, because you know your body best.

On this episode, you will hear:
- unexplained infertility
- IUI and IVF during COVID
- high blood pressure and magnesium drip
- retained placenta and tearing
- readmitted twice after discharge
- cardiology consult 
- PPCM diagnosis
- seeking validation

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.

On this episode, we are joined by Kara Kushnir, LCSW, PMH-C. Kara is a psychotherapist and founder and clinical director of her private practice - A Work of Heart Counseling in New Jersey. We talk about all things OCD and perinatal trauma, but we also highlight Kara's new book "Mama's Thoughts". We hope you enjoy today's episode and that these nuggets of info are helpful for you navigating OCD or perinatal trauma.

On this episode, you will hear:
- Intersection of OCD and trauma
- Understanding mental compulsions in OCD
- Effective treatments for OCD and trauma
- Perinatal trauma and OCD
- Acceptance and moving forward

You can follow Kara on Instagram @karakushnir_therapist

You can order Kara's book "Mama's Thoughts" HERE!

Guest Bio:
Kara Kushnir is a psychotherapist and founder of A Work of Heart Counseling & Wellness - a practice based in Northern NJ - as well as an Author and advocate for perinatal mental health, new families and children. When she is not in session with clients or advocating for policy change, you can find Kara training other therapists or with her husband and son relaxing, spending time outdoors and seeking to wind down. Kara brings a wealth of knowledge - both from professional and personal experience - to her work, and hopes to start conversations about maternal mental health to end the silence so many new moms suffer in.

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.

On this week's Listener Series episode, we welcome Megan. She shares with us about her first birth experience where she had a very unexpected crash c-section under general anesthesia. She was officially diagnosed with PPTSD and went through months of therapy and EMDR. She shares how her trauma ultimately led to two scheduled gentle c-sections that were very redemptive for her.

On this episode, you will hear:
- gestational diabetes and high risk pregnancy
- uterine groth restriction
- cesarian section under general anesthesia
- therapy and EMDR
- changing hospitals for subsequent pregnancies
- redemptive subsequent cesarian sections

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.

On this week's episode, we welcome Dr. Nikki Pensak - a licensed clinical psychologist certified in perinatal mental health. Dr. Pensak is the author of "RATTLED" which discusses how to calm new mom anxiety with the power of the postpartum brain. 

On this episode, you will hear:
- perinatal anxiety
- addressing mom guilt and shame
- managing anxiety and detaching from constant monitoring
- reframing "mommy brain" and embracing cognitive boosts
- the intersection of anxiety and trauma in motherhood
- the pressure to be a perfect parent and the importance of self-compassion
- validating and supporting mothers in their journey

You can find and follow Dr. Nikki Pensak on Instagram: @drnikkipensak
You can order her book RATTLED here!

Guest Bio:
Dr. Nikki Pensak received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from University of Rhode Island and completed her APA accredited internship and specialty training in behavioral medicine at Yale School of Medicine. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital/ Harvard Medical School in psychiatric oncology and an NIH T32 fellowship at the University of  Colorado, Anschutz Medical Center in Aging and Palliative Care. As a Harvard and Yale-trained Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Pensak provides anxiety, depression, and trauma therapy that is empirically-based  treatment that is uniquely tailored to meet the needs of each client.

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.

This week's Listener Series episode, we welcome Claire. Claire is an LCSW and a Medical Social Worker in the oncology field. She shares with us her infertility journey, and her blissful pregnancy, and the quick turn of events into a traumatic birth. She shares vulnerably about her healing process and how important communication and accountability is in the recovery journey.

On this episode, you will hear:
- Infertility and IVF
- Guilt and challenges in the postpartum period
- The power of external validation and support
- The importance of repair and validation in the healing process
- Emotional and physical challenges in recovery
- The role of therapy in healing and the power of sharing stories

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.

On our first episode of the mini-series, we will be tackling a commonly asked about topic- How to find a new OBGYN after birth trauma. 

What you'll hear:
- Where to search for new OBGYN practices
- How to decide on which practice OBGYN to choose
- What questions to ask

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.

On this week's listener series episode, Jess shares with us her birth story with her second of four children. In her c-section, Jess started to have a lot of trouble breathing and her heart rate started to sky rocket. Jess was taken to the cardiac Cath lab as soon as possible after Amelia's birth. An impella was inserted in the midst of CPR being administered to Jess and she had to be transferred to a different hospital to be placed on ECMO. Jess would not have survived the transfer to the other hospital for ECMO without the impella. Two months postpartum, Jess had an appointment where they found out she had a tumor that they learned explained everything in her situation and she had high risk and complicated surgery to remove it. After a couple years of processing and working with specialists, Jess had two subsequent c-sections.

On this episode, you will hear:
- retrograde amnesia
- high blood pressure in pregnancy
- cardiac arrest and the use of Impella and ECMO
- discovering a tumor and surgery following
- subsequent c-sections and healing process

If you have a birth trauma story you would like to share with us, click this link and fill out the form. 

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.

This week we welcome Dr. Jasmine, PharmD, PMH-C. Jasmine is a clinical pharmacist and a maternal mental health advocate. We talk all things only children and Jasmine's journey to making the decision to have an only child after her experience with postpartum depression. We dive deep into what it means to either have to make this choice or have this choice made for you and all the feelings and nuance wrapped up in having an only child, as well as the societal expectations and pressure and biases. I hope this episode is helpful and validating whether you are planning to have an only child or are still in the midst of making that decision.

On this episode, you will hear:
- the impact of postpartum depression and insomnia
- the journey to choosing an only child life
- navigating societal pressure and stereotypes
- grief and complex emotions in the decision-making process
- the nuance of the in-between space
- the impact of trauma and fear in decision-making
- the freedom of making a decision and prioritizing mental health

You can find and follow Jasmine on Instagram @pearlsofjasmine and follow her podcast as well @healingthetigress

Guest Bio:
Dr. Jasmine, PharmD, PMH-C, is a clinical pharmacist with a perinatal mental health certification (PMH-C)! She is also a podcast co-host of Healing the Tigress and has a blog where she shares insights on maternal mental health and travel as a coping skill. Her goal is to be as helpful as possible and to spread awareness that mental health is just as important as physical health. Jasmine is a proud mama of a little girl and also a proud survivor of postpartum depression and anxiety.

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.