Resolving Pre and Perinatal Birth Shock and Trauma

One of our most popular classes, the baby clinics are for everyone--from parents and grandparents to pediatricians. From child psychologists to midwives and doulas, this class promises an interesting experience with lots and lots of details and possibilities for working with babies.

Normally we work with one baby per day whose session is filmed. Immediately after the therapeutic process, there is a question and answer period. In the afternoon there is a video feedback process where the therapy session is analyzed in detail and where Karlton answers questions of the participants.

Birth can be a traumatic experience resulting in emotional and psychological challenges.

Some of the causes of pre and perinatal trauma include:

• Hospital interventions (i.e.: drugs administered at birth, labor induction, cesarean birth, forceps delivery)
• Stressful events during pregnancy (moving, divorce, any kind of loss, etc.)
• Physical illness or RH incompatibility
• Stressful or negative experiences during labor or after birth
• Prematurity
• Cord compression
• Unwanted baby

How trauma is addressed affects an infant’s experience of the world. Unresolved trauma tends to recapitulate itself and burrow into the body and psyche, impacting a wide range of behaviors. Some behaviors that might indicate unresolved birth trauma in infants and toddlers are:

• Sleeping problems
• Eating issues
• Colic and/or excessive crying
• Breastfeeding difficulties
• Persistent power struggles
• Anxiety or anger out of proportion to present time events
• Difficulties around transitions