How to Heal Birth Trauma: How Faith and Functional Medicine Can Help Mothers Recover
Recently on the podcast, I had the privilege of speaking with Brigid Tebaldi, a functional women’s health coach who specializes in helping moms heal from birth trauma. As someone who has experienced birth trauma myself, this conversation was especially meaningful to me.
Understanding Birth Trauma
Birth trauma, as Brigid explained, can occur anytime from preconception through extended postpartum. It’s any experience where a woman feels her wishes weren’t respected or something happened without her consent. What makes this complex is that trauma is relative – what’s deeply traumatic for one person might not affect another in the same way.
The impact of birth trauma can linger for years or even decades if not addressed. Brigid shared that she’s worked with women who were still processing their birth experiences 20+ years later, with annual birthday celebrations being triggers rather than purely joyful occasions. (!)
Things to remember:
- Trauma can occur at any point from preconception through extended postpartum
- It can include experiences where a woman feels unheard, unsafe, or violated
- Traume manifests differently for each person and can affect both mother and baby
My Personal Experience with Birth Trauma
During our conversation, I opened up about my own experience with birth trauma. My daughter’s birth involved days in the hospital with a cascade of unwanted interventions that ultimately led to an emergent C-section. Everything happened in ways I didn’t want, leaving both my husband and me with lingering emotional wounds.
I didn’t fully recognize how deeply the trauma had affected me until I was pregnant with my son and experienced a panic attack when two close friends went into labor on the same day. This was my body’s way of telling me I hadn’t fully processed what happened. Working with a counselor before my son’s birth was instrumental in helping me prepare for that experience in a healthier way.
- My body’s fight-or-flight response was triggered even months after birth
- Professional support made a significant difference in my healing journey
- Even after working through much of it, I realized during this conversation that some effects might still linger
The Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
What fascinated me most was Brigid’s explanation of how trauma physically manifests in our bodies. When we experience trauma, our nervous system becomes dysregulated, creating a cascade of physical symptoms both immediately and long-term. This isn’t just psychological—it’s physiological.
She shared a powerful example of a client who experienced hemorrhaging during multiple births, which was connected to deep-seated feelings of not being safe or valued. Until we address these root causes, our nervous system remains on high alert, affecting everything from our energy levels to how we respond to our children.
- Chronic fatigue and irritability may signal unresolved trauma
- Our bodies are wise and trying to protect us through these responses
- These physical manifestations can continue until the underlying trauma is addressed
Finding Jesus in Your Birth Story
A unique aspect of Brigid’s approach is how she integrates faith into healing. She helps women literally visualize where Jesus was present during their traumatic experience, which shifts the narrative from abandonment and failure to presence and purpose.
This perspective doesn’t make the trauma disappear, but it fundamentally changes our relationship to it. Instead of carrying shame or believing our bodies failed us, we can begin to trust that even in those difficult moments, we weren’t alone. This spiritual component creates a deeper healing than talk therapy alone could provide.
- Visualizing Jesus’ presence during traumatic moments brings comfort
- Reframes the experience from “my body failed” to “this has purpose”
- Allows women to release shame and guilt by offering it to God
First Steps Toward Healing
If you recognize that you may still be carrying birth trauma, Brigid shared some practical first steps that anyone can take. The healing journey begins with identifying your core memory related to the trauma and sitting with that memory to identify what you were feeling in that moment—whether it was fear, shame, abandonment, or rejection.
She also suggested a powerful practice called “parts work,” where you have your adult self comfort your past self during that traumatic moment. This helps your body understand that you aren’t in danger anymore, gradually changing how your nervous system responds to these memories.
- Identify and sit with your core memory related to the trauma
- Practice having your current self comfort your past self
- Recognize that healing isn’t about forgetting but transforming your relationship to the memory
Not all trauma happens at birth in Episode 02 Supporting Mothers Through Their Child’s Cancer Journey with Amy Sloan, Amy Sloan inspires listeners to hold on to faith even through the traume of having a child diagnosed with cancer. Her story will lift you up.
The Importance of Support and Community
Finding support is crucial in the healing journey, and Brigid emphasized that asking for help doesn’t make you a bad mom—it makes you a wise one. Whether through faith-based organizations, healthcare providers, or coaches like Brigid, having someone who understands what you’re experiencing can make all the difference.
I know from my own experience how isolating birth trauma can feel, and how transformative it is to have someone validate your experiences and guide you toward healing. Sometimes just having someone sit and listen without trying to fix everything can be exactly what we need.
- Faith-based organizations like Redbird Ministries or Sola Gradia Via offer specialized support
- Look to midwives or doctors who can recommend local resources
- Remember that vulnerability takes courage and is a sign of strength, not weakness
A Message for All Moms
As we wrapped up our conversation, Brigid left us with a beautiful reminder that I think every mom needs to hear. You are a good mom. Your body is wise, your baby is wise. The small moments of self-care—even just 5-10 minutes of prayer, journaling, or a quiet moment after a shower—are not selfish but necessary. Check out Episode 03 From Burnout to Breathing Space | 4 Soul-Nourishing Self Care Tips for Overwhelmed Special Needs Parents for ways to get started on realistic self care.
I would add that our children learn how to care for themselves by watching how we care for ourselves. When we prioritize our healing and well-being, we’re teaching them to do the same. Our families deserve the version of us that is calm, patient, and kind—and that version emerges when we tend to our own healing.
- Take small moments for yourself throughout the day
- Remember that your children learn self-care by watching you
- Be gentle with yourself—you’re doing an awesome job
Connect with Brigid
If Brigid’s approach resonates with you, she would love to connect. You can find her on Instagram at @Brigid.Tebaldi or visit her website at LoretoWellness.com. She mentioned that she loves connecting through voice memos and helping women find resources tailored to their specific needs.
Whether you’re currently pregnant, recently gave birth, or are decades into your motherhood journey, there’s healing available if you’re still carrying birth trauma. As someone who has walked this path, I can tell you that doing this work is challenging but absolutely worth it—not just for you, but for your whole family.
Have you experienced birth trauma? What has helped you in your healing journey? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.