Pregnancy is an exciting time, feeling a life grow within you, eagerly anticipating your child’s birth. You have it all planned out, you know how you want the birthing process to go, and you are all set. Then the unexpected happens; your labor stops, the baby is in distress, you are in distress and doctors are performing an emergency caesarian section to save your baby and you. What started as a joyful exciting experience becomes a trauma.
Traumatic births can leave lasting emotional scars for both the parent and the child. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), is a psychotherapy approach that has been effective in treating various forms of trauma, including birth trauma.
During EMDR sessions, the therapists guide the individual in recalling distressing aspects of the birth experience while simultaneously engaging in bilateral stimulation, which could involve following the therapist’s fingers with their eyes or listening to alternative sounds or taps. This helps reprocess traumatic memories, allowing the individual to integrate them in an adaptive manner.
 EMDR can help individuals suffering from traumatic birth experiences in several ways:
 ·     Processing Traumatic Memories: EMDR helps individuals process and reframe traumatic memories associated with the birth experience. This can reduce the emotional distress and intrusive thoughts related to the trauma.
·     Addressing Negative Beliefs: Traumatic births can lead to negative beliefs about oneself, the world, or the future. EMDR can help identify and challenge these negative beliefs, replacing them with more positive and adaptive ones.
·     Reducing Anxiety and Stress: EMDR can alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that may arise from a traumatic birth experience. By reprocessing traumatic memories, individuals can experience a reduction of emotional distress and psychological arousal.
·     Improving Coping Skills: EMDR can help individuals develop better coping mechanisms for managing triggers and stressful situations related to their birth trauma. This can lead to increased resilience and a greater sense of control over their emotions.
·     Enhancing Attachment and Bonding: For parents who experienced traumatic births, EMDR can help address any disruptions in bonding with their child that may have resulted from the trauma. By resolving the trauma, parents can strengthen their attachment to their child and promote healthier parent-child relationships.
Â
It is essential for individuals considering EMDR therapy for traumatic birth experiences to work with a qualified and experienced therapist who is trained in this approach. At Budd Therapy Group, LLC, clinicians are both trained and certified in EMDR. They have vast experience working with individuals who have experienced trauma. Contact experienced EMDR Therapists in New Jersey today at www.buddtherapy.com to learn how you can promote wellness and healing from traumatic birth experiences. Budd Therapy offers both in-person and tele health options, conveniently located in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.