Trauma, The Body & Parenthood
~ A Perinatal Conversation That Matters ~
Parenthood changes everything – our bodies, our minds, our hearts.
And sometimes trauma can show up in parenthood in ways we don’t even realise…
A few weeks ago I sat down with Louise Lynch from the The Relaxed Mama Club for an open and honest conversation about perinatal trauma, the body and the incredible transformation that comes with becoming a parent.
Whether your journey into parenthood was smooth, complicated, empowering or unexpected – if you’re feeling that you’re not quite ‘right’ – this podcast is for you.
What Trauma Really Is
So many people think trauma only refers to catastrophic events. But trauma is what happens inside the mind and body when we experience something overwhelming without enough support. This means trauma can come from moments we dismissed, minimised or pushed through.
Becoming a parent tends to bring this to the surface because it’s a time of huge vulnerability, identity change and physical and emotional intensity.
Not only can it trigger past events, it often raises a lot of questions about ourselves and our ability to parent.
Why It’s Not Always About Birth Trauma
When people hear “trauma and motherhood,” they often assume it means birth trauma.
And while birth trauma is real and widespread, trauma in motherhood isn’t always connected to labour.
Perinatal trauma can come from:
Feeling unsupported or dismissed by healthcare providers
A fertility journey or medical interventions
Pregnancy complications
A traumatic event earlier in life resurfacing
Chronic stress or emotional overwhelm
Feeling unsafe, unheard or alone at any stage of the perinatal period
In other words, if your birth was “fine” on paper but you’re still struggling, nothing is wrong with you. It’s likely that your body is simply holding onto something that hasn’t yet been fully processed.
How Unprocessed Trauma Lives in the Body
One of the key parts of the conversation is about how trauma doesn’t just live in the mind, but also the body.
Even when your mind moves on, the body can hold tension, freeze responses or emotional echoes of past events.
You might start to experience aches and pains, insomnia, fatigue, digestive problems, allergies, migraines, skin issues – without fully understanding why.
This is a really common experience among those navigating birth trauma or perinatal trauma. I explain how these physical symptoms are an expression of trauma and can be seen as signals from within, asking you to pause, listen and heal.
Understanding this is the first step toward meaningful trauma healing.
The Power of Deep Healing
In our conversation, we explore how true recovery often begins beneath conscious awareness.
When the unconscious mind is supported and guided, healing becomes not only possible – but transformative.
Healing trauma allows you to feel more present, more connected and more aligned with the parent they want to be – allowing you to finally ENJOY being a parent!
This Episode Is For You If You’re…
- Overwhelmed by feelings that don’t “make sense” such as anxiety, guilt, anger, fear
- Experiencing pain, ongoing illness or health issues
- Struggling to connect with your child or being a parent
- Feeling that parenthood has opened emotional doors you didn’t expect
- Unsure why you react the way you do
- Ready to feel lighter, stronger and more yourself again
Whether you’re pregnant, in the thick of early parenthood or years down the line, you’re not alone if you feel overwhelmed, stuck or like your body is falling apart.
Parenthood is a process, a journey of self discovery and learning – and not always an easy one!
But there’s SO much healing available when we begin to understand this and begin to listen to the messages our body has been trying to tell us.
I offer bespoke 1:1 online coaching sessions to enable you to release trapped trauma, come back to yourself and be the BEST parent you can 🙂