When people talk about pregnancy and childbirth, they often use words like beautiful, magical, or the best time of your life.
But what if that wasn’t your experience?
What if, instead of joy, you felt fear… confusion… or grief? What if the birth of your child left you feeling disconnected, overwhelmed—or even traumatized?
If any of that feels familiar, please hear this:
You’re not alone. And there’s nothing wrong with you.
At Jaclyn Herrig Counseling, I work with clients every day who are carrying the unseen weight of perinatal trauma—and they deserve support, healing, and compassion. So do you.
What Is Perinatal Trauma?
Perinatal trauma refers to emotional or psychological distress that happens:
- During pregnancy
- During labor or delivery
- In the postpartum period (usually within the first year)
This kind of trauma doesn’t have to involve a medical emergency. It’s not about whether others think what you experienced was traumatic.
It’s about how it felt to you. And how it’s still living in your body and mind.
What Can Cause Perinatal Trauma?
Perinatal trauma can stem from many different experiences. Some of the more common ones I see in my Dallas-based practice include:
- High-risk pregnancy or severe morning sickness
- Fertility struggles, miscarriage, or stillbirth
- Emergency C-sections or unplanned interventions
- Feeling dismissed or unheard during birth
- NICU stays or complications with the baby’s health
- Painful labor or unexpected outcomes
- Past trauma that resurfaces during the perinatal period
- Lack of emotional support or overwhelming pressure to “bounce back”
Even if the baby is healthy and you’re “doing all the things,” trauma can quietly settle in when things didn’t go as expected—or when your needs weren’t met.
How Perinatal Trauma Might Show Up
Perinatal trauma can look different for everyone. You might notice:
- Flashbacks or upsetting memories from birth
- Feeling numb, disconnected, or not yourself
- Difficulty bonding with your baby
- Panic attacks, anxiety, or hypervigilance
- Sleep disturbances or nightmares
- Avoidance of medical appointments or anything birth-related
- Guilt for not “feeling how you’re supposed to feel”
It might feel like something inside you cracked open—and you haven’t quite been able to put the pieces back together.
You’re Not Alone—And You’re Not Broken
Studies show that:
- 1 in 3 birthing people describe their birth as traumatic
- Around 9% may develop PTSD after childbirth
- Many more experience emotional distress that doesn’t get labeled, but is very real
Perinatal trauma is common, but it’s often invisible. That can make it even more isolating—especially when the world expects you to feel nothing but joy.
You Can Heal (Gently, and at Your Pace)
Healing from perinatal trauma doesn’t mean forgetting what happened. It means finding a way to feel safe again—in your body, in your emotions, in your role as a parent.
In my practice, I offer:
- EMDR therapy to gently reprocess trauma and reduce emotional distress
- Somatic and body-based approaches to help regulate the nervous system
- A warm, nonjudgmental space to tell your story—if and when you’re ready
- Tools to support your emotional well-being as a parent and individual
Whether you’re weeks postpartum or years out, it’s never too late to begin healing.
Gentle Reminders for Right Now
If you’re struggling, this is for you:
- You’re not weak for finding this hard. You’re human.
- You can love your baby and still be hurting.
- Your trauma doesn’t have to be dramatic to be valid.
- You deserve support, even if others “had it worse.”
- You are not a bad parent—you’re a brave one.
For Partners and Loved Ones
If someone you care about is navigating perinatal trauma, your presence can mean everything.
- Listen without judgment
- Believe their experience, even if it’s hard to understand
- Offer simple support—like rest, food, or quiet companionship
- Encourage professional help without pressure
- Let them go at their own pace
Being there matters more than having the right words. Reach out anytime.
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