FAQs About Birth Trauma and Birth Debriefing

  • It’s a one-on-one conversation with an experienced midwife. You’ll share your experience, and together we’ll explore what happened from midwifery, medical and emotional perspectives. You’ll be listened to without judgment and supported as you process your story.

  • There’s no right or wrong time. Our service is available bulk-billed until your baby is 6 weeks of age. If your baby is older, birth debriefing is still available, however a fee applies.

  • 1 - 10 sessions, depending how we travel :)

    If we’re reviewing your records, if there is a lot to process, if you have a lot of questions - these things may be mean that we’ll need more than one session. The beauty of our service is that it is unlimited - it’s about you and what you need.

Birth Trauma and Birth Debriefing

Dial a Midwife … we’re here for you - all the way

Birth Debriefing - Processing Your Birth Experience with Compassion and Care 🤱

Not every birth feels like the glowing, joyful story we often see shared. For some women, birth can be confusing, overwhelming or even traumatic. In fact, studies show that many women find our birth practices and birth care to be traumatising. Perhaps things didn’t go to plan, you felt unheard or the experience left you feeling shaken and disempowered.

If this sounds like you, please know you’re not alone. Many women experience birth trauma, and sadly, too often it goes unspoken. That’s why we offer Birth Trauma and Birth Debriefing: a safe, compassionate space where you can talk through your experience with an experienced midwife who truly understands.

During a birth debrief, we can:

  • Talk through your story, in your own words, in your own time, without judgment.

  • Ask questions about what happened, and why.

  • Understand the medical aspects of your experience in plain, easy-to-follow language. We can even go through your midwifery / medical records together and make sense of things.

  • Begin to process the emotions surrounding your birth.

  • Explore ways to move forward that work for you, especially if you’re planning another pregnancy.

This service is not just about “talking it through” — it’s about finding meaning, clarity, and peace. Many women describe feeling lighter, calmer and more in control after birth debriefing.

✨ Free with your Medicare card
✨ Confidential, supportive, and non-judgmental
✨ Helpful whether your birth was vaginal or caesarean

Why a Birth Debrief Can Help 🌸

Birth trauma doesn’t always look the same. For some, it may be a sense of fear or helplessness during labour. For others, it may be linked to unexpected interventions, loss of control or even difficult interactions with care providers.

A debrief allows you to:

  • Gain answers to lingering questions that may keep you awake at night.

  • Feel heard and validated in a safe, supportive environment.

  • Rebuild trust in your body and in maternity care systems and health practitioners.

By taking the time to reflect and understand your birth, you can begin to heal.

Accessible and convenient

No matter where you are in Australia, you can book a telehealth (or phone) consultation with your midwife. We offer video and phone consults for women in the privacy and comfort of their own home. For new parents and families in rural and remote Australia, it is comforting to know that a midwife is only a call away. 

Highly Trained Midwives

All of our midwives are not only registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, but also endorsed. Endorsement is available to midwives upon application after completion of at least 5,000 hours of practice and obtaining additional qualifications. Endorsed midwives have a Medicare Provider Number and PBS Prescriber Number. 

Our midwives are experienced in all settings - clinics, public hospitals, private hospitals, birth centre, homebirth, private practice and obstetric services.

available

We offer flexible times for appointments and if you need a same-day appointment, we will always try to accommodate you. Use our service as little – or as much – as you need. We encourage continuity of care and would love to be by your side, online, as you journey through your pregnancy and experience the first few weeks with your new baby. We offer home visits for Sydney-based patients (an additional fee may apply).

Bulk-Billing – free care for Medicare card holders

If you have a Medicare card, our phone and video consults are fully covered by Medicare - there is no out-of-pocket fee or gap with a Medicare card. We’re unable to assist if you are outside of Australia or if you’re currently in hospital, and without a valid Medicare card, a small fee will apply.

Supplement your care

We’re super keen to bridge the gap in care between going home from hospital with your baby, and the 6-week check. We also know from experience that many women feel anxious, leave appointments with unanswered questions and find it so helpful to have a single, trusted midwife on the end of the phone throughout pregnancy and for the first six weeks after the birth of their baby.

midwifery continuity of care

Ad private midwives, we offer care for women as early as a missed period, throughout pregnancy and for the first 6 weeks of baby’s life. For many women, our service will provide the only source of continuity and consistency throughout their birthing year.