Birth Trauma and How to Overcome a Difficult Birthing Experience – Podcast Ep 76
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Birth Trauma and How to Overcome a Difficult Birthing Experience – Podcast Ep 76

We're chatting with psychologist Teela Tomassetti about birth trauma and how to overcome a difficult birthing experience. Here's what to know.

Published January 4, 2022

by Nina Spears

The Baby Chick®: Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum Expert
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A person lying in a hospital bed covers their face with both hands. Their hospital gown and medical wristband are visible, hinting at recent birth trauma. Medical equipment and a blurred background suggest a hospital setting. The lighting is soft, creating a calm but serious atmosphere.


Birth trauma. It’s a real thing, and everyone’s trauma is valid. Research shows up to 45% of women report their birth as traumatic.1 And that is heartbreaking. Not enough people have heard about birth trauma, so today, we are so grateful to chat with Teela Tomassetti, a psychologist from Alberta, Canada, and the name and face behind the Instagram account @theteaonbirthtrauma.

Teela has spent the last 15 years specializing in various forms of trauma therapy, such as domestic violence, childhood sexual abuse, tragic losses, and sexual assault. A few years ago, Teela pursued her Doctorate specializing in birth trauma. Since then, Teela has made it her mission to create a safe space to explore birth trauma survivors’ experiences, support them in discovering their healing, and shed light on this topic.

Today’s episode is about birth trauma and how to overcome a difficult birthing experience. I am honored to chat with Teela about this. She shares some incredible insight, research, and her own traumatic childbirth experience. You will leave this episode much more knowledgeable, compassionate, and empathic to all birthing mothers.

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We hope you found this episode helpful. If you did and enjoyed it, please subscribe to our podcast, Chick Chat, and leave us an honest review. Links below!

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Nina Spears The Baby Chick®: Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum Expert
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Nina is The Baby Chick® & Editor-in-Chief of Baby Chick®. She received her baby planning certification in early 2011 and began attending births that same year. Since then, Nina has received her birth doula and postpartum doula certifications from DONA International, her childbirth educator certification from ICEA, her Hynobabies Hypno-Doula certification, and her infant massage instructor certification from Loving Touch, among other certifications. Nina has used her knowledge and expertise to teach and support families during their pregnancies, at their births, and throughout their postpartum journeys for over a decade.

Early in her career, Nina acquired her nickname from one of her birth doula clients, who lovingly referred to her as “The Baby Chick.” The “chick” who knows all about babies.…

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