Advocacy & Education for Birth Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care
Educating and equipping through compassionate connection
About Birth Trauma Ontario
An agent for change in a connected world
Birth Trauma Ontario exists in response to the global crisis of mistreatment in childbirth and birth-related trauma. Although we are centred in Ontario, we are part of a connected global community that is working together to change how women are experiencing pregnancy and birth. Mistreatment in childbirth spans every culture, every demographic, and every socioeconomic status. It's not an 'over there' issue, but rather a 'right here' concern. Birth Trauma Ontario is an advocate for the prevention of birth-related trauma through trauma informed education and skills development, and in the creation of viable maternity care alternatives.
Educating and equipping through compassionate connection
Research has provided us with the necessary information and parameters for addressing birth-related trauma and obstetric violence with comprehensive and compassionate solutions. With about 1/3 to 1/2 of maternity care consumers having a traumatic experience and postpartum suicide as a related consequence, the need for a new approach to maternity care is dire. Birth Trauma Ontario provides researched and comprehensive consultations, online training in the skills of trauma informed care, and collaborates in the training of skilled Traditional Birth Companions.
Hope and healing for parents
After a traumatic experience, postpartum PTSD can persist for years if not recognised and addressed. It negatively impacts the sufferer with flashbacks, sleep issues, as well as possible issues with returning to work, health-related problems, relationship problems, and bonding and care concerns with their baby. Birth Trauma Ontario provides consultations and education for parents and loved ones to help them understand the causes and consequences of birth-related trauma and positive steps for moving forward to healing and recovery. Mothers are invited to join our closed facebook group for compassion, understanding, and peer support.
educating and equipping through compassionate connection
Consultations
Professional consultations, webinars, seminars, and workshops are available for care providers, allied health care providers, birth-related professionals, clinics, training organisations, birthing units, educators and more to provide professional development in the understanding of traumatic birth experiences, trauma in the perinatal client, and skills development in trauma-informed care specific to the perinatal client. Professionals can also benefit from professional development in resilience-based client care, understanding secondary and vicarious trauma, burnout, and strategies for recovery. Individual and group sessions are available.
Parents and loved ones can also benefit from targeted consultations that help them to piece together and understand what transpired that contributed to their traumatic experience. Birth-related trauma and its consequences can begin to make sense when it's viewed through a research-based perspective that also explains why the symptoms of trauma look like they do. Consultations can help identify healing strategies and steps for moving forward.
Those who are hoping to conceive or are planning a birth after trauma can work through their concerns and come up with a plan that works for them.
