Sakina Ballard is a trauma-informed Perinatal Coach & Mentor supporting women and mothers to navigate their transitions with nurture and authenticity. Sakina currently works clinically and strategically in Perinatal Mental Health at an NHS trust and is also training as a Psychologist. She is passionate about offering gentle, safe & personalised spaces to unravel women’s past experiences & future goals, helping them to integrate their story and take the next step forward in a way that feels empowering for them.
In this episode of the Soul Mama Podcast, we navigate the delicate realm of birth trauma with the insightful Sakina Ballard, a passionate birth trauma specialist with deep personal and professional expertise. We discuss birth trauma and its impact on women and mothers, as well as the importance of processing birth stories and rewriting them in a way that empowers mothers. Highlighting the challenges faced by black and brown women in the medical system, Sakina offers insights on how to navigate and advocate for a safe birth experience. Sakina lends her voice to highlight the complex emotions and challenges mothers face, such as low libido and postpartum sex, which are often overlooked in the mainstream narratives. Sakina and I unravel the layered impact of birth experiences, stressing the necessity of empowerment, safe birthing environments, and the courage to rewrite one’s story. Join us to discover strategies for reclaiming control and connection – this episode is a lighthouse guiding mamas towards wellness and wholeness.
Takeaways
- Birth trauma is a complex issue that affects many women and mothers.
- Symptoms of birth trauma include feeling unsafe, unheard, and out of control during the birthing process.
- Processing and rewriting birth stories can be a healing and empowering practice.
- Black and brown women face unique challenges in the medical system and may need to advocate for their own safety and well-being during birth.
- Finding someone who can witness and help reframe your story.
- Seek physical support to heal the body, such as scar massage or tissue massage.
- Build a supportive community and prioritise self-care in the healing process.
Timecodes:
08:41 Safety in pregnancy begins with woman’s physiology.
13:21 Misunderstanding of birth trauma and its impact.
17:59 Needing time, safety, space to process trauma.
20:06 Encouraging women to share and reflect on birth.
24:44 Validation and processing of difficult experiences.
28:58 Navigating individual needs and safety in childbirth.
32:36 Acknowledging trauma, seeking healing, and asserting needs.
35:43 Encouraging women to take authority in childbirth.
39:58 Neglect of intergenerational trauma in black communities.
42:26 Fear of minority birthing women in white spaces.
50:34 Healing birth trauma requires acknowledging and nurturing emotions.
53:26 Support and hope for healing birth trauma.
You can follow Sakina on Instagram here.
You can check out her website here.
Do join us on Instagram to continue the conversation.
And book a free call with me if you need some support on your own soul mama journey.
Lots of Love
Nehanda xx
“Because at some point, we’re going to have to face what happened in our births, even if they went on paper according to plan and we’ve come out healthy, our children have come out healthy. To be able to have a space to unpack what didn’t go to plan, I think is really important.”