The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast

In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I’m joined by NICU clinical nurse educator Jessi Barnes for a powerful conversation about the intersection of professional expertise and lived experience.

With 15 years of nursing experience—including time in high-risk perinatal units and the NICU—Jessi now dedicates her career to teaching and mentoring NICU nurses with a trauma-informed lens. But her perspective deepened profoundly when her own daughter was born prematurely at 27 weeks and spent 75 days in the NICU.

Together, we explore:
👩‍⚕️ What it means to be a NICU clinical nurse educator...

In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I’m joined by Ashley Rainey, labor and delivery nurse, educator, clinical director, and PhD candidate, whose passion for improving birth outcomes for Black women is rooted in her own experiences at the bedside and in the system.

Together, we dive into the heavy reality of navigating pregnancy while carrying the weight of maternal mortality statistics, the lasting emotional impact of both big and small traumas, and how we can build a healthcare system that actually meets people where they are, with dignity, awareness, and trauma-informed care.

...

In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I’m joined by Alyssa, who shares her story of surviving a catastrophic postpartum complication. What began as a smooth pregnancy and an unplanned C-section turned into undiagnosed sepsis, a perforated bowel, emergency surgery, and over four weeks in the hospital, two of them spent in the ICU, separated from her newborn daughter.

Alyssa walks us through the red flags that were dismissed, the overwhelming pain and isolation she endured, and the moment when her C-section scar began leaking fluid, leading to the discovery of a life-threatening complication. No...

In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I’m reflecting on six years since the day my life and my son Callahan’s changed forever. Six years since I experienced an amniotic fluid embolism that nearly took both of our lives. Six years into a healing journey that has been anything but linear.

This solo episode is my most honest update yet. I talk about what recovery looks like this far out from the trauma: what’s changed, what hasn’t, the unexpected gifts, and the grief that still lingers. I share how I’ve learned to...

In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I’m joined by Ashley for a powerful story of high-risk pregnancy, trauma, and resilience. Ashley walks us through her experience carrying monoamniotic-monochorionic (mono-mono) twins, an extremely rare and high-risk type of twin pregnancy where both babies share a placenta and amniotic sac, significantly increasing the risk of cord entanglement and fetal demise.

From a shocking twin diagnosis to navigating weeks of inpatient monitoring, Ashley opens up about the impossible decisions she and her husband faced, the emotional toll of living in constant fear, and the gratitude and gr...

In this re-released episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I’m revisiting one of the most requested and tender topics in our community, birth trauma anniversaries. Whether it’s your child’s first birthday or their fifth, anniversaries of traumatic births can stir up a swirl of emotions: grief, anger, anxiety, guilt, and everything in between.

In this solo Q&A-style episode, I answer your questions about what it means to navigate these layered, complicated days. I talk through why the lead-up to the anniversary can feel harder than the day itself, how to...

In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I’m joined by Sabryna for a powerful and emotional account of her first birth. Her story began with an itch in her third trimester and escalated into a life-threatening emergency for both her and her daughter. What unfolded was a series of missed diagnoses, medical dismissal, and a traumatic delivery that included an emergency C-section, undiagnosed preeclampsia, a NICU stay due to a rare heart condition.

With vulnerability and insight, Sabryna walks us through the heartbreak of being ignored by her care team, the fear of not kn...

In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I’m joined by licensed trauma therapist, author, and speaker Kobe Campbell for an honest, and deeply vulnerable conversation about her traumatic birth experience and the lifelong impact it’s had on her, her son, and her healing journey.

What began as a dreamy, hypno-birthing-fueled pregnancy quickly turned into a series of medical emergencies: preeclampsia, placental abruption, IUGR, a failed epidural, an emergency C-section, NICU transfers, and devastating relational trauma at the hands of dismissive and discriminatory providers. Kobe vulnerably shares the layers of grief, rage, and resilience she...

In this listener story episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I’m joined by Lauren, a writer and mom of two, who shares her powerful and vulnerable story of an unexpected and traumatic birth. After a smooth pregnancy and a well-prepared plan for an unmedicated delivery, Lauren’s labor took a sudden and intense turn involving prodromal labor, a failed epidural, vacuum-assisted delivery, and ultimately, a shoulder dystocia that left both her and her baby in physical and emotional recovery.

From feeling dismissed by her doula, to processing the chaos and fear of delivery, to the quie...

In this episode we are joined by Ana Lepe Vick, a fierce advocate, educator, and bereaved mother to share her journey through loss, trauma, and relentless advocacy. Ana opens up about the stillbirth of her son, Owen, after a textbook pregnancy, and the long, heartbreaking road of unanswered questions, birth trauma, and healing that followed.

She brings us into the world of advocacy she co-created through Push for Empowered Pregnancy, a movement working to prevent stillbirth through awareness, policy change, and provider education.

Ana reminds us that grief and trauma don’t end in the ho...

In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I’m joined by Francine and Matt for an emotional retelling of their son’s birth, a story that began with a calm, well-planned birth center experience and ended in a series of life-threatening emergencies, including a transfer to the hospital, an emergency C-section, a postpartum hemorrhage, and an amniotic fluid embolism (AFE).

With honesty, heartbreak, and even humor, Francine and Matt walk us through their experience of navigating a medical system that left them unsupported, uninformed, and at times, in the dark. Francine shares what it was like...

In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I’m joined by licensed marriage and family therapist, Emilee Krupa, for a deep dive into ketamine-assisted therapy. With ketamine gaining attention for its use in treating trauma, depression, and anxiety, Emilee offers both expertise and clarity around what it really looks like when used intentionally and safely in a therapeutic setting.

Together, we unpack what ketamine is (and isn’t), the difference between infusions and assisted therapy, and how this medicine can be a powerful tool for those who feel like they’ve tried everything. This co...

In honor of Pride Month, this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast features a powerful and deeply personal conversation with Alejandra- a queer parent, birth trauma survivor, and passionate advocate for inclusive, affirming perinatal care. Alejandra shares about her family, their journey through infertility and IVF, and a traumatic birth experience involving preeclampsia, an emergency cesarean, a NICU stay, and a near-fatal postpartum hemorrhage.

Together, Kayleigh and Alejandra explore the intersections of identity, trauma, and healing. They shed light on the systemic challenges queer families often face in reproductive healthcare and the strength and resilience it...

In this solo episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I share a personal journey preparing for and undergoing a simple procedure after experiencing significant birth trauma. What used to feel like an impossible task, stepping into a hospital, lying on a table, and surrendering control, became a moment of grounded confidence and self-advocacy. Drawing from both clinical knowledge and lived experience, I talk through the practical and emotional tools that helped me feel safe, empowered, and informed before, during, and after the procedure. 

This episode is a roadmap for survivors looking to reclaim autonomy and reduce o...

In this week's Listener Series episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, Arianne courageously shares her story of navigating a traumatic birth, a devastating postpartum complication, and the aftermath of nearly losing her life.

After an otherwise healthy pregnancy, Arianne went into labor at 34 weeks following a sudden and severe bleeding episode. What unfolded was a cascade of medical emergencies, including an emergency C-section, high blood pressure that was dangerously overlooked, and a second hospitalization for postpartum preeclampsia, all while parenting a NICU baby and moving into a new home.

As a Black woman, Arianne’s...

In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, Kayleigh is joined by Nicole McNelis, LPC, therapist, educator, and nationally recognized expert in maternal rage. Nicole shares how she became known as “the mom rage lady,” what maternal rage really is (and what it isn’t), and why so many perinatal trauma survivors experience it.

Together, Kayleigh and Nicole unpack the systemic, emotional, and trauma-related roots of maternal rage, reframing it not as a personal failure, but as a powerful, righteous signal that something in your environment isn’t working. Nicole offers a compassionate, evidence-based lens for understa...

In this week’s Listener Series episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, Scarlett bravely shares her story a layered, and still-unfolding journey through birth trauma, postpartum hemorrhage, and complex pelvic floor injuries that continue to impact her life more than five years later.

She speaks candidly about the realities of:
🩸 Surviving a traumatic birth and emergency postpartum care
⚕️ Navigating misdiagnoses and medical dismissiveness
🏥 Undergoing reconstructive surgery, just days before COVID shut down elective procedures
💔 Living with an unresolved injury, even years later
💬 Parenting solo while healing, with her husband deployed and her newborn in tow...

In this re-release, Kayleigh revisits one of the most listened-to solo episodes of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast: a personal and validating exploration of what it means to struggle with bonding after a traumatic birth.

We’re often told that the “golden hour” will be the most magical moment of our lives, that love will overflow the second our baby is placed on our chest. But for many trauma survivors, that moment never comes. Instead, we're left navigating guilt, shame, and confusion about why bonding didn’t look the way we were told it would.

Drawing...

In this powerful Listener Series episode, we sit down with Allison, a dedicated labor and delivery nurse whose own experience as a health care provider turned her world upside down. As an L&D nurse who spent her days supporting others through birth, Allison never imagined she would experience trauma firsthand on the other side of the bed.

Allison's story highlights the unique challenges of health care worker trauma and the long path to reclaiming safety, identity, and healing after trauma.

In this episode, we discuss:

In this Mini Series episode, I dive into a nuanced conversation around gratitude practices for perinatal trauma survivors. While gratitude can be a powerful tool for healing, it often becomes complicated when paired with the experiences of trauma, grief, and loss.

Whether you’ve felt pressure to “just be grateful” or are searching for ways to reconnect with yourself and your story, this episode offers validation and actionable insight.

🔑 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

In this week’s Listener Series episode, I sit down with Megan to explore the layered and emotional journey of holding both immense gratitude and deep grief. After years of infertility, a traumatic ectopic pregnancy, and two rounds of IVF, Megan finally became pregnant with her miracle baby, but her story didn’t end there.

What followed was a high-risk pregnancy marked by preeclampsia, a NICU stay, and a traumatic C-section that left Megan under general anesthesia, missing the birth of her son. In this powerful conversation, Megan shares the duality of her experience, the joy of fina...

In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Colleen Reichmann, clinical psychologist, eating disorder specialist, and founder of Wildflower Therapy. Together, we dive deep into the complex intersections of body image, eating concerns, infertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and birth trauma.

Dr. Reichmann shares her professional expertise and personal journey navigating anorexia, infertility, and postpartum body changes, offering validation, compassion, and essential insights for anyone who has felt disconnected, angry, or let down by their body.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
🌸 How control, body image, and trauma collide during...

In honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, this week’s Listener Series episode features a deeply moving and courageous conversation with Jocelyn. She shares her story of how a sexual assault in college—though years in the past—powerfully influenced her second birth experience, which unfolded into a traumatic emergency C-section under general anesthesia.

Jocelyn Rodal's experience highlights the devastating impact of being unheard, unprepared, and uninformed in moments of extreme vulnerability—and how a history of sexual trauma can resurface in the birthing room in ways that even well-meaning providers may not realize.

In this epi...

In this deeply emotional and courageous Listener Series episode , Mandy shares her story- a story of medical trauma, sexual assault, domestic violence, birth trauma, and survival.

From a devastating hospitalization at the start of the pandemic to becoming pregnant through rape and surviving an abusive relationship during pregnancy, Mandy brings raw honesty and incredible insight into how trauma, resilience, and advocacy can co-exist.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:
🔹 Mandy’s life-threatening medical complications leading up to pregnancy
🔹 Discovering she was pregnant by rape while in an abusive relationship
🔹 Living through hyperemesis...

In this powerful and nuanced episode, I’m joined once again by Morgan Bradwell, LCSW, PMH-C, to explore the intersection between sexual trauma and perinatal trauma.

We discuss how past sexual trauma can shape the perinatal experience, increase the risk of birth trauma, and impact postpartum mental health, including rates of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Morgan draws from her clinical experience supporting survivors of sexual trauma and perinatal trauma to help us better understand how to support pregnant people with this history, whether you’re a provider, a partner, or navigating it yourself.

What You’ll Hea...

In this Listener Episode, I sit down with Priya as she shares her deeply personal and emotional journey through birth trauma, emergency medical interventions, and the unimaginable grief of losing her baby in the NICU. Priya opens up about experiencing a traumatic birth, the unexpected complications that followed, and the physical and emotional toll it took on her postpartum experience.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

April is Cesarean Awareness Month, and we’re re-releasing this incredibly important conversation to spotlight the complexities, emotions, and real stories behind C-sections.

On this solo episode, Kayleigh is discussing all things c-section. She shares a few different studies highlighting the data on c-sections and PTSD, as well as how they compare to other modes of delivery. Kayleigh also touches on TOLACs and planned cesarean sections after birth trauma. 

In this episode:
- Types of C-Sections
- C-Section and birth trauma
- Communication and Support as mitigating factors
- Delivery decisions aft...

In this episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I sit down with a Victoria, a midwife to explore the complexities of birth trauma from a provider’s perspective. Together, we discuss the emotional and physical impact of traumatic births, how midwives support birthing people through these experiences, and the importance of trauma-informed care in maternity settings.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, I sit down with Jenna, an ICU nurse and fellow Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE) survivor. Jenna shares her harrowing birth experience, the life-saving interventions she received, and the long road to recovery.

We discuss:
💔 The shocking moment Jenna realized something was very wrong after birth
🚨 Her rapid decline  & emergency medical response
🩸 Being diagnosed with AFE, intubated, and placed on ECMO
🦵 The unexpected vascular complications & multiple surgeries that followed...

March 27th marks Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE) Awareness Day, a time to honor the lives affected by this rare but life-threatening complication. In this special episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, we take a deep dive into what AFE is, how it happens, and what can be done to improve survival rates.

In this episode, we discuss:
🩸 What is AFE? Understanding this sudden and unpredictable complication
⚕️ Symptoms & Diagnosis: How AFE presents and why it’s difficult to diagnose
🚨 Emergency Response & Treatment: The critical importance o...

In this powerful Listener Series episode, Courtney shares her deeply personal journey through birth trauma, miscarriage, and healing. From navigating unexpected medical challenges to advocating for herself in the face of systemic failures, her story is one of resilience, grief, and ultimately, self-discovery.

On this episode, you will hear:
💔 Facing childbirth with a history of trauma & medical anxiety
💔 The emotional toll of low platelets & losing control over pain management
💔 A traumatic induction experience & feeling unheard by medical providers
💔 The devastating experience of miscarriage & lack of support
💔 Giving birth alone during COVID & the las...

Searching for a therapist after experiencing birth or perinatal trauma can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. In this special mini-series episode, we break down exactly how to find a therapist who is trained in both perinatal mental health and trauma, so you can get the support you deserve.

In this episode, we cover:
🔹 The best qualifications & trainings to look for in a therapist
🔹 Why both perinatal mental health & trauma training matter
🔹 Where to search for a specialized therapist (PSI, Touchstone, & more)
🔹 What questions to ask in a free cons...

A special and highly requested rerelease - 

Dr. Vibha Mahendra, a board-certified Obstetric Anesthesiologist, joins me on this episode to discuss anesthesia options during labor and delivery and why they are sometimes ineffective, potentially leading to trauma for the patient. Dr. M also provides insight into how providers can problem-solve these pain relief issues and communicate with patients in a way that mitigates trauma. This was such an insightful conversation and I think does a great job educating the patient in a way that puts them in a better position to advocate or communicate with their support p...

In this deeply moving episode of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast, Joni shares her raw and powerful birth story—one filled with unexpected turns, systemic failures, and unimaginable strength. From an intense labor experience to a traumatic C-section where she felt the surgery, Joni walks us through the emotional and physical aftermath of her birth and the complex journey of processing trauma while embracing new motherhood.

On this episode, you will hear:
💜 The impact of unplanned and traumatic C-sections
💜 What happens when medical records fail to reflect a patient’s reality
💜 How systemic hospital failures affe...

On this week's episode, we welcome Marlie Willer, an experienced trial lawyer whose practice focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on obstetrical negligence and maternal health rights. She recognizes the gaps between the injuries suffered by mother and babies and the limited legal options available to them. Marlie discusses with us in detail what it means to decide to pursue litigation after birth trauma and birth injury. There is so much to learn in this episode and Marlie and her expertise is so incredibly helpful and validating.

On this episode, you will hear:

...

On this week's episode, we welcome Kris to share her story. Kris offers us a unique perspective of experiencing generational birth trauma. Kris' mother passed away at 3 days old, and she shares with us her own birth trauma with her second pregnancy with her son Logan - who is now 23. After years of healing and putting in the work for it, Kris shares about what it is like to be 20+ years removed from your birth trauma and how important it is to speak out your trauma and not be small in your story. We hope this episode gives hope...

This week, we are releasing a new mini series episode. We are breaking down a little how-to for preparing for medical appointments after birth trauma. There is a possibility of so much activation, fear, and anxiety in medical appointments after you have experienced birth trauma, so I am going to talk you through it and break down a long-term prep for a medical appointment, what that can look like and what the before, during and after process is. If medical appointments after birth trauma is a challenging thing to navigate, remember you aren't alone in it and you can...

On this week's listener story, we are doing a special rerelease with Hannah's story. Hannah and her wife had a fairly healthy pregnancy but she experienced what she refers to as serial complications during and after the birth of their daughter.

Things you will hear on this episode:
- Induction and long labor
- 3B tear due to a laceration
- Struggling to bond
- Breastfeeding challenges
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Postpartum Depression
- Small bilateral pulmonary emboli
- Developing mastitis and a UTI
- postpartum D...

On today's episode, we are talking about provider trauma. This is a topic that we are incredibly passionate about and I think this plays an intricate role in birth and perinatal trauma and our ability to prevent it. We are specifically talking about any health care worker in the labor and delivery, obstetric and NICU/ICU space - essentially anyone involved in one's care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. This is such a personal topic, as I share how my team made space to process the trauma they experience with my AFE and Cal's birth.

In this...

On this week’s episode, we welcome Nandi as she bravely shares her story of love, loss, and healing. Nandi opens up about her first pregnancy with her son, Kiran Jude, whose life was tragically cut short by a brain bleed just three days after birth in the NICU. She also reflects on the birth of her daughter, a journey that resulted in an emergency C-section and a hysterectomy due to her blood disorder, Factor VII Deficiency. With courage and vulnerability, Nandi speaks about navigating the depths of grief, the deafening silence that accompanies it, and the ways she co...