When Birth Isn’t Joyful: Supporting Postpartum Trauma

Childbirth is supposed to be one of life’s most joyful moments — but for many parents, the reality of birth trauma can have lasting emotional and physical impacts. In this conversation, Katie Au, M.D. and Katherine Jorda, M.D., directors of the Perinatal Trauma Clinic at Oregon Health & Science University, explore how trauma can emerge during pregnancy, labor or postpartum. They also discuss why so many parents feel alone in their experience, and how trauma-informed, multidisciplinary care can transform recovery.