Are you expecting a baby or planning to conceive soon? Becoming a parent can be a wonderful experience, but it can also come with its share of challenges and disappointments, including birth trauma. If you've experienced a traumatic birth in the past or want to be proactive in preventing it, this guide is for you.

What is EMDR? EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a highly researched therapy and has been found to be effective in treating trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and ears at any stage of life, including during pregnancy.

Traumatic stress is a response to a frightening or life-threatening experience---real or perceived. It's not a sign of weakness, and it's also an involuntary neurobiological reaction.

You may have negative feelings about your pregnancy, your baby's birth or your own body. And having a history of trauma also increases the risk of traumatic stress and PTSD. Current research is indicating that rates of PMADs, perinatal PTSD and traumatic stress have increased during the pandemic.

In my practice, I use EMDR to help women and new moms heal from trauma before, during and after pregnancy. EMDR can be used alone or with other therapies to relieve symptoms that can cause you to feel overwhelmed, stuck or hopeless.

DISSOCIATION IS SOMETHING THAT OCCURS DURING A TRAUMATIC EVENT AND IS A SYMPTOM OF TRAUMA/PTSD THAT’S VERY OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD AND UNRECOGNIZED. KNOWING THE SIGNS OF DISSOCIATION CAN HELP YOU BEGIN TO HEAL FROM YOUR TRAUMA AND HELP YOU CONNECT WITH YOURSELF, YOUR BABY AND THE PEOPLE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU.