Birth Reflections
Space to process your birth experience, at your own pace.
Your birth story matters, however it unfolded. And if you were there as a partner rather than the person giving birth, your experience of that day matters too.
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 time and space to talk through a birth experience, with someone who understands birth and who will listen without judgement. It's for birthing parents and for birth partners, together or separately, whichever feels right for you.
What is a Birth Reflections appointment?
A Birth Reflections appointment is a supported conversation about a 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 underneath. Both are valid. All experiences are welcome here.
In this appointment, we can:
Talk through what happened during the 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 the 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 a 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, and no time limit on when you come. Some people book a few weeks after birth. Others come years later, when something has finally made space for it to surface. Whenever it is for you, it's the right time.
For birth partners
Partners often carry their own version of the day. Watching someone you love go through something frightening, feeling shut out of decisions, feeling unable to help, or replaying moments you wish you'd handled differently, all of that deserves space too, even when the birth itself is described as having "gone fine."
You can book a Birth Reflections appointment as a couple, processing the birth side by side, or as a partner on your own, so you have room to speak freely without shaping what you say around someone else's memory of the day. Some couples choose a joint session, some have individual and some do both. There's no wrong way to do this. It's worth letting me know at booking which format suits you, so the appointment can be set up accordingly.
How does it work?
Birth Reflections appointments are available at my clinic in Bray, as a home visit across Wicklow, South Dublin, and North Wexford or online, 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, not how it might look from the outside.
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 what you went through. I won't minimise what you've been through, and I won't 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'll 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 it would help to look through what happened together, you're entitled to request a copy of your maternity records.
Here's how:
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're 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 early if you'd like to have them for our appointment, as processing times vary
You don't 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, get in touch and I can point you in the right direction
Please don't let this put you off booking. Notes can be helpful, but they are never essential. What matters most is that you have space to talk.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a time limit on when I can book? No. Some people come a few weeks after birth, others years later. There's no cut-off, and no birth is "too long ago" or "not difficult enough" to bring here.
Can I bring my partner, or book a joint session? Yes. Birth Reflections can be booked together as a couple or individually, whichever feels right. Let me know your preference when booking.
Do I need to bring my maternity notes? No. Notes can be useful if you'd like to look through what happened together, but they are never required.
Is this the same as counselling or psychotherapy? No. This is a midwife-led reflective conversation grounded in clinical understanding of birth, not a talk therapy session. If it becomes clear during our conversation that counselling or psychotherapy would help, I'll talk you through options and support you in finding the right referral.
Where do appointments take place? At my clinic in Bray, as a home visit across Wicklow, South Dublin, and North Wexford and online.
Booking
You deserve to be heard.
Sessions typically last 60 to 90 minutes.
Clinic appointments at Rose Clinic, Bray Home visits across Wicklow, South Dublin, and North Wexford
To book, or to talk through which format suits you before committing,