**********The Birth Trauma Support Group has been suspended for June-July-August 2010 and will resume on September 22**********
"At least you have a healthy baby!"
"It wasn't that bad!"
"Why can't you just put it behind you and move on?"
Sound all too familiar? It's difficult for other's to understand what we are feeling when we have been traumatized while giving birth to our babies. After all, the research around trauma itself suggests that "an experience will be troubling to the extent that it seems sudden, overwhelming, or dangerous to the person having the experience." The birth of a healthy baby in our culture is viewed as a joyous occasion and the primary goal, without much consideration of the birthing mother and what that experience was like for her. Furthermore, awareness and support of birth trauma is very minimal in our culture, leaving very little knowledge or resources for the woman and her family to cope with this trauma. And unfortunately, the need for such support is steadily increasing.
As such, I have created a Birth Trauma Support Group for women who have experienced trauma while giving birth. My intention is to provide a safe, supportive environment for women to gather and share their story. In addition to storytelling, there will be opportunities for processing through art (sketching/painting/clay) and/or journaling.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Any woman who suffered trauma while giving birth, whether vaginally or by cesarean, is welcome to attend.
WHEN: We meet on the fourth Wednesday of every month, from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
WHERE: Big Belly Services, 2366 Eastlake Ave. E, Suite 428, Seattle, WA. Click here for directions.
REGISTER: Registration is required; please do so here.
FEE: No cost to attend, however, a $5 donation is requested to offset the cost of supplies.
Please contact me with any questions or concerns: Email: angie@gratefuldoula.com or 206.898.9793.
