The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast

エピソード

• 
  Ep. 260: Uterine Rupture, Postpartum Hemorrhage & a Rare Tumor feat. Rebecca 16.07.2026 47分

  Rebecca's story is one of extraordinary resilience. What began as a routine induction quickly turned into a life-threatening postpartum emergency, followed by the discovery of a rare orbital tumor, multiple surgeries, and a long road through PTSD and healing. In this heartfelt Listener Series episode, Rebecca shares how community, therapy, faith, and giving back helped her reclaim her life after birth trauma. If you've ever felt like your trauma became your identity, this conversation o...
• 
  Ep. 259: Celebrating The Worst Day of Your Life: Birth Trauma Anniversaries 14.07.2026 33分

  This week's episode is a solo conversation about one of the most complicated parts of healing after birth trauma: anniversaries. Whether it's your baby's birthday, the day you were admitted to the hospital, your NICU discharge, or another date tied to your experience, trauma anniversaries can bring up overwhelming emotions, even years later. Kayleigh shares why these reactions are so common, what is actually happening in the nervous system, and practical ways to care for yourself as these sig...
• 
  Ep. 258: Three Births, Two NICU Stays, and the Trauma She Didn't Recognize feat. Liana 09.07.2026 1時間 9分

  In this heartfelt listener story, Liana shares how three very different pregnancies and births each shaped her experience of motherhood in unexpected ways. After developing gestational hypertension that progressed to postpartum preeclampsia with her first baby, she found herself navigating the uncertainty of a premature birth and NICU stay, all while trying to understand what had happened to her own body. Years later, another unexpected NICU stay with her third baby brought many of those emot...
• 
  Ep. 257: Self Blame After Birth Trauma 07.07.2026 25分

  This week's episode is a solo conversation tackling one of the most common, and most painful, themes that emerges after a traumatic birth: self-blame. If you've ever found yourself replaying your birth and thinking, "I should have spoken up," "I should have known something was wrong," or "My body failed my baby," this episode is for you. Kayleigh explores why these thoughts are such a common response to trauma, how our nervous systems use self-blame as a way to create a sense of safety and co...
• 
  Ep. 256: Mothering Through Loss: Pregnancy Loss, TFMR, Birth Trauma, and Healing feat. Carmen 02.07.2026 37分

  In this moving listener story, Carmen shares her complicated journey through pregnancy loss, recurrent miscarriage, TFMR (termination for medical reasons), traumatic births, emergency deliveries, and ultimately building the family she always dreamed of. As a mother of 12 babies, five Earthside and seven who are no longer physically here, Carmen offers a powerful perspective on grief, resilience, and what it means to continue mothering children who have died. Throughout this conversation, Carm...
• 
  Ep. 255: PTSD in the Perinatal Period 30.06.2026 22分

  We often use the terms birth trauma, perinatal trauma, and PTSD interchangeably, but they're not actually the same thing. In this episode closing out PTSD Awareness Month, Kayleigh breaks down the important differences between: Birth and perinatal trauma as an experiencePost-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) that may not meet diagnostic criteriaPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a clinical diagnosisUnderstanding these distinctions matters, not because one experience is "worse" than anoth...
• 
  Ep. 254: Healing After Birth Trauma: A Conversation with My Former Therapist 23.06.2026 1時間 10分

  Kayleigh sits down with her former therapist, Hilary Waller, to reflect on the years they spent working together after Kayleigh's amniotic fluid embolism (AFE), birth trauma, and the life-altering experiences that followed. Together, they explore the therapeutic relationship, what healing actually looks like over time, and how trauma recovery often evolves from surviving to grieving to fully living again. This conversation offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at therapy from both the client a...
• 
  Ep. 253: Preeclampsia at 30 Weeks: The Hospital Stay, Premature Birth, and Healing That Followed feat. Jess 18.06.2026 46分

  In this listener story, Jess shares her experience with preeclampsia that went from seemingly mild and manageable to severe in a matter of days. As a first-time mom with an otherwise uncomplicated pregnancy, she found herself blindsided by a diagnosis she knew very little about and quickly facing decisions she never imagined having to make. Jess opens up about the fear, confusion, and lack of education she encountered throughout her pregnancy, the emotional toll of a prolonged hospital stay, ...
• 
  Ep. 252: A Different Kind of Episode: Our Disney & Universal Adventure 16.06.2026 31分

  This week’s episode is a little different than our usual conversations about birth trauma, healing, and maternal mental health. Kayleigh is taking listeners behind the scenes of her family's recent trip to Disney World and Universal Orlando, a trip she never expected would become one of their favorite family experiences. As a self-proclaimed non-theme-park expert, Kayleigh shares the planning strategies, lessons learned, and practical tips that helped make the trip successful for their family...
• 
  Ep. 251: Waking Up to a New Reality at 27 Weeks: Placental Abruption, Emergency Twin Birth, & NICU feat. Kirsten 11.06.2026 29分

  In this heartfelt episode, Kirsten shares the story of her unexpected twin pregnancy, a sudden placental abruption at just 27 weeks, and the terrifying emergency C-section that changed everything in a matter of minutes. Far from home and under general anesthesia, Kirsten woke up to a reality she never imagined: two extremely premature babies fighting for their lives in the NICU. Kirsten opens up about the grief, fear, and disconnection she experienced during those early days, as well as the c...
• 
  Ep. 250: Birth Trauma, Preeclampsia, and a Life-Changing Prenatal Diagnosis feat. Kate 04.06.2026 50分

  In this powerful listener story, Kate returns to share her second birth experience after previously sharing her first story years ago. After surviving postpartum preeclampsia and medical trauma with her first child, Kate spent years healing through therapy, EMDR, community support, and advocacy work. When she became pregnant again, she hoped for a different experience, but life had other plans. At 24 weeks pregnant, Kate learned that her son had a rare congenital heart condition. What followe...
• 
  Ep. 249: One and Done After Birth Trauma - A Special ReRelease 02.06.2026 43分

  This week, we are rereleasing a powerful episode with our guest Jess Myhre to talk about the choice (or sometimes not) to be one and done, particularly after birth trauma. Jess has been a pioneer in the discussion and support of families with only children, regardless of the reason. She fiercely advocates and validates for these families in her beautiful space @onlyyoucommunity. On this episode, Jess shares her story of birth trauma along with hope and encouragement for those who are one an...
• 
  Ep. 248: Preeclampsia, Birth Trauma, and the Search for A Redemption Birth feat. Kayelynn 28.05.2026 47分

  This week on the Birth Trauma Mama Podcast listener series, Kayleigh is joined by Kayelynn to share her powerful story of preeclampsia, birth trauma, repeat C-sections, and the complicated journey of pregnancy after trauma. In honor of Preeclampsia Awareness Month, this episode highlights the reality of living through severe preeclampsia, navigating emergency medical decisions, and coping with the emotional aftermath that can linger long after birth. Kayelynn vulnerably shares her experiences...
• 
  Ep. 247: Losing Yourself After Birth Trauma 26.05.2026 20分

  This episode explores the profound identity shift that can happen after birth trauma, the grief of losing who you were before, the disorientation of feeling disconnected from yourself, and the complicated process of rebuilding after trauma. Kayleigh shares how trauma can reshape personality, relationships, interests, and even the way we experience parenthood itself. Through personal stories and reflections from the birth trauma community, this conversation offers validation, hope, and reassur...
• 
  Ep. 246: The Accident, the NICU, and the Aftermath: A Twin Sisters’ Birth Trauma Story feat. Holly & Alison 21.05.2026 1時間 17分

  In this deeply emotional and powerful listener episode, Kayleigh is joined by sisters identical twin sisters Alison and Holly, whose journeys through pregnancy, birth trauma, medical trauma, and survival became heartbreakingly intertwined. Both clinical psychologists, both high-achieving perfectionists, and both navigating pregnancy at the same time, neither could have imagined the life-altering experiences ahead of them. From severe pregnancy complications and traumatic medical experiences t...
• 
  Ep. 245: Medical Records and Debriefs - Mini Series - A Special Rerelease 19.05.2026 13分

  On this week's episode, we are doing a special rerelease! 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 ...
• 
  Ep. 244: From Twin Birth to Neuro ICU feat. Jessica 15.05.2026 37分

  In this episode, Jessica shares the unimaginable journey of becoming a first-time mom to twin boys while surviving a rare and life-threatening postpartum medical complication after a wet tap during her epidural. From seizures and brain bleeds to time in the neuro ICU and separation from her newborns, Jessica vulnerably opens up about trauma, healing, advocacy, and ultimately finding hope through a healing birth experience with her third baby. 💛 The emotional rollercoaster of conceiving twins ...
• 
  Ep. 243: EMDR for Perinatal OCD & Trauma 12.05.2026 49分

  In this insightful episode, Kayleigh sits down with therapist and perinatal mental health expert Hilary Waller to explore the nuanced overlap between perinatal OCD, trauma, and EMDR. Hilary shares her journey into this work, her passion for supporting parents through medical trauma and loss, and how EMDR can help address the nervous system responses underneath intrusive thoughts and anxiety. 💛 Why intrusive thoughts in the perinatal period are far more common than most parents realize 🧠 The d...
• 
  Ep. 242: When Loss and Trauma Collide feat. Katherine 07.05.2026 50分

  In this episode, Kayleigh sits down with Katherine to hold space for the layers of trauma that can exist alongside stillbirth and loss. Katherine shares the story of her son Brody, the life-threatening complications she experienced after his birth, and the continued trauma that unfolded in her pregnancy and delivery with her living child. Through her unfiltered honesty, Katherine sheds light on the often-overlooked realities of birth trauma within the loss community, and reminds us that grief...
• 
  Ep. 241: Mother's Day After Birth Trauma 05.05.2026 14分

  In this mini episode, Kayleigh opens up about the often unexpected and deeply layered experience of Mother’s Day after birth trauma. She offers validation, normalization, and gentle guidance for navigating a day that can feel both meaningful and incredibly heavy. 💐 The many layers of Mother’s Day grief, including loss, infertility, complicated relationships, and birth trauma 🤍 Why Mother’s Day can feel surprisingly triggering, even when your child is here and you “expected” to feel only joy 🌊...