PreCon Track B: Birth Stories That Take Root: Trauma-Informed Birth Debriefing for Doulas

Birth is a transformative experience that deeply influences a client’s sense of control, safety, and overall well-being—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. For birth and postpartum doulas, understanding how to support clients in processing their birth story is essential, especially for those with a history of personal, familial, intergenerational, or historical trauma.

This pre-conference session offers expanded time and space to explore the significance of birth debriefing as a vital component of trauma-informed care. Participants will examine common birth and birth trauma triggers and learn practical strategies for debriefing in both the early and later postpartum periods. With additional time built into this session, doulas will have the opportunity to workshop scenarios, engage in guided reflection, and build confidence in offering this essential support.

As part of the When Survivors Give Birth training, this session also explores the connection between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the heightened risk of birth trauma. It highlights the importance of culturally responsive and emotionally attuned care when working with clients who carry these lived experiences. Creating space for clients to process their birth helps them feel seen and heard—an essential part of healing that supports emotional resilience and long-term well-being. For doulas, this practice offers powerful insight into their clients’ evolving needs, supporting a more personalized and equitable approach to care that can extend well beyond the immediate postpartum period.

This pre-con session is part of a 3-session bundle (Track B) and is available as an add-on option to the main conference.