New Barwon Health post-birth counselling services helping parents after traumatic experiences

Madison Papas had a traumatic birth with her second baby but a new service has helped her heal and process the experience.

Madison Papas with 11-week-old Goldie and midwife Serena Pellizzeri from Barwon Health. Picture: Alison Wynd.

Lara mum Madison Papas had a traumatic birth experience when welcoming her second bub, Goldie, into the world.

“It did not go as planned,” the 30-year-old said.

Ms Papas had a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) in early May.

She had an emergency caesarean with her first baby and wanted to give a natural birth another try with her second bub.

“I had a very straightforward pregnancy,” Ms Papas said.

“But during labour, (Goldie) she got a little bit stuck.

“She was delivered via forceps in theatre … and she needed some help breathing after she was born.

“It was all very chaotic.”

Goldie was taken to the special care unit at Geelong hospital for extra monitoring.

Ms Papas said she was so focused on taking care of her newborn that she wasn’t able to fully process her birth experience.

When she was about six weeks post-partum, she was still thinking about the birth and “didn’t really understand what had happened”.

Ms Papas contacted Barwon Health and was put in touch with a midwife to have a post-birth debrief, a new service at its Early Parenting Centre in North Geelong.

The debrief gives parents and family members a chance to discuss and better understand their birth experience.

“The service was amazing and helped with my mental healing and getting answers on what actually happened during my labour and birth,” Ms Papas said.

“It was a great service that gave me clarity and helped to comprehend what went had happened.”

Madison Papas with 11-week-old Goldie and midwife Serena Pellizzeri from Barwon Health. Picture: Alison Wynd.

Midwife Serena Pellizzeri, who works at the clinic, said the service took a “multi-disciplinary

approach”, with senior obstetricians, midwives, and counselling support available.

“The post-natal period can be a challenging time, particularly when a labour and birth doesn’t go to plan,” she said.

“Parents are often adjusting to caring for their newborn baby while still physically recovering from labour, so there isn’t always an opportunity to fully recognise, process and address any issues that arose during the birth.”

Ms Pellizzeri said the service was also helping to improve Barwon Health’s maternity services with feedback being passed onto midwives and carers and better support patients.

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology, then edited and approved for publication by an editor.

Originally published as New Barwon Health post-birth counselling services helping parents after traumatic experiences