Birth Reflections
Space to process your birth experience, at your own pace.
Your birth story matters, however it unfolded.
Whether your birth felt overwhelming, didn't go to plan, left you with unanswered questions, or simply sits with you in ways you haven't been able to name yet, you don't have to carry it alone.
Birth Reflections is a dedicated, one-to-one appointment offering you the time and space to talk through your experience, with someone who truly understands birth, and who will listen without judgement.
What is a Birth Reflections appointment?
A Birth Reflections appointment is a supported conversation about your birth, and how it has left you feeling.
Many people find that after birth, there are things that didn't quite make sense, moments they're still thinking about, or feelings they haven't had the chance to talk through. Sometimes the birth was difficult or traumatic. Sometimes it was straightforward on paper, but emotionally complex. Both are valid. All experiences are welcome here.
In this appointment, we can:
Talk through what happened during your birth, in your own words and at your own pace
Help you make sense of any decisions that were made, or things you were told
Gently explore how your birth experience may be affecting you now
Identify whether additional support, such as counselling or a GP referral, might be helpful
This is not a debrief in the clinical sense. It is a compassionate, unhurried space, held by someone with both midwifery expertise and specialist training in perinatal mental health and childbirth-related trauma.
Who is this for?
Birth Reflections appointments are for anyone who:
Had a birth that felt frightening, out of control, or distressing in any way
Experienced an unexpected intervention, emergency, or caesarean
Felt unheard, unsupported, or dismissed during their care
Is struggling with how they feel about their birth experience, even if others have said it "went well"
Simply wants space to talk it through and be heard
There is no right or wrong reason to book. If your birth is on your mind, that's enough.
How does it work?
Birth Reflections appointments are available at my clinic in Bray or as a home visit across Wicklow, South Dublin, and North Wexford, whichever feels right for you.
Sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes, and we move entirely at your pace. There is no pressure to share more than you're comfortable with, and no expectation of where the conversation should go.
Where helpful, I can also support you in accessing your maternity notes, so we can look at what happened together and fill in any gaps.
A note on trauma
Birth trauma is more common than many people realise, and it can arise from experiences that others may not recognise as traumatic. What matters is how you experienced it.
As a midwife with a micro-credential in Perinatal Mental Health and Childbirth-Related Trauma from Trinity College Dublin, I approach every conversation with sensitivity, care, and a deep respect for your experience. I will not minimise what you've been through, and I will not tell you how you should feel.
If, during our session, I feel that further support would benefit you, whether that's counselling, a GP referral, or another specialist, I will say so gently and help you find the right next step.
Accessing Your Maternity Notes
You are absolutely not required to bring your notes, and many people come without them. However, if you feel it would help to look through what happened together, you are entitled to request a copy of your maternity records.
Here is how to do that:
If you gave birth in an Irish public hospital, you can request your maternity records directly from the medical records department of the hospital where you delivered. This is done under a Subject Access Request (SAR) in line with GDPR. Most hospitals have a form on their website, or you can contact the medical records department by phone or email to ask for one.
You are entitled to receive these records free of charge. Hospitals are required to respond within one month, though in practice it can sometimes take a little longer.
If you gave birth in a private hospital or with a private consultant, the process is similar. Contact the hospital or your consultant's rooms directly and request your records under GDPR.
A few practical tips:
Request your records as early as you can if you'd like to have them for our appointment, as processing times vary
You do not need to give a reason for requesting them
You can ask for all records or specific parts, such as your birth summary or partogram
If you have any difficulty accessing your notes, feel free to get in touch and I can point you in the right direction
Again, please don't let this put you off booking. Your notes can be helpful, but they are never essential. What matters most is that you have space to talk.
Booking
You deserve to be heard.
Clinic appointments at Rose Clinic, Bray
Home visits across Wicklow, South Dublin and North Wexford