Birth & Pregnancy Trauma - A Gentle Path to Healing
- Joy
- Mar 14
- 4 min read
Releasing Trauma with the Three Step Rewind Process
Becoming a parent is often described as one of life’s most transformative experiences. But what happens when pregnancy, birth, or feeding doesn’t go as planned? What if instead of joy, you are left with anxiety, distress, or an overwhelming sense of loss? If this resonates with you, please know that you are not alone—and that there is a way forward.
The Three Step Rewind process is a gentle and effective approach to releasing the emotional weight of traumatic experiences. Whether you are struggling with pregnancy trauma, birth trauma, or feeding trauma, this technique offers a safe and compassionate way to restore a sense of calm and empowerment. If you are looking for birth trauma support in Edinburgh, Glasgow, The Lothians or beyond, this method can be a powerful tool for healing.
I had a lot of mum-guilt because I could not breastfeed which overshadowed my first months with my baby. Joy was compassionate and understanding, and helped me release that guilt and move forward. I finally feel at peace knowing I did my best. Sara - Course Review
What is the Three Step Rewind Process?
The Three Step Rewind process is a beautifully simple yet profoundly effective method rooted in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and relaxation techniques. It helps to gently shift the way distressing memories are stored in the brain, so they no longer trigger the same emotional responses. This means that even though the memory of the event remains, the intense emotional charge around it is significantly reduced or even removed.
This process is particularly beneficial for those who feel stuck in a loop of distressing thoughts, flashbacks, or anxiety about a past experience. It works by guiding you into a relaxed state where your brain can ‘rewind’ the experience in a safe and supported way, allowing your nervous system to reprocess and release the trauma.
How Can It Help with Pregnancy, Birth, and Feeding Trauma?
Trauma related to pregnancy, birth, or feeding can have a lasting impact on your emotional well-being. Many parents experience feelings of guilt, shame, anxiety, or sadness, often feeling as though they ‘should just move on’—but trauma doesn’t work like that. When an experience is stored as trauma, it remains in the nervous system, keeping the body and mind on high alert, even when the danger has passed.
The Three Step Rewind process helps to shift these distressing memories, allowing you to move forward with greater ease. Some of the specific benefits include:
Reducing flashbacks and intrusive thoughts – so you no longer feel like you are reliving the experience.
Easing feelings of anxiety and overwhelm – making everyday life feel more manageable and enjoyable.
Restoring confidence and empowerment – helping you to reconnect with yourself and your ability to parent without fear or doubt.
Releasing guilt or shame – allowing you to embrace your experience without judgement.
I offer this support online so if you are based in Edinburgh, Glasgow, The Lothians or beyond and are struggling with pregnancy or birth trauma, this process can provide a safe and effective way to heal. FIND OUT MORE
What to Expect from a Three Step Rewind Session
The process takes place over three sessions, allowing time for gentle exploration and integration. Each session is designed to be a safe, nurturing space where you feel fully supported.
The First Step – Talking Through Your Experience We begin by discussing your experience in a way that feels comfortable for you. You are in control of how much or how little you share. Some people like to tell their story, whilst others do not want to share at all. You do not have to tell me what happened if you do not want to, just the feelings associated with the experience. This step helps to gently acknowledge the emotions connected to your experience and set the foundation for the process.
The Second Step – Rewinding the Memory Using guided relaxation and visualisation techniques, we help your mind revisit the memory in a way that allows it to be processed differently. This is done in a deeply relaxed state, ensuring that you remain comfortable and in control throughout.
The Third Step – Re-imagining a New Future In this final step, we guide you to create a new, more empowering association with the experience. This helps to reduce any remaining emotional charge and allows you to move forward feeling lighter, freer, and more at peace.
A Compassionate Path to Healing
One of the most beautiful aspects of the Three Step Rewind process is its gentle, non-invasive nature. It does not require you to relive trauma in detail or talk through every painful moment. Instead, it works by allowing your brain to reprocess the experience in a way that brings relief and healing.
If you are feeling weighed down by a distressing experience from pregnancy, birth, or feeding, please know that healing is possible. You don’t have to carry this burden alone. The Three Step Rewind process offers a gentle and effective way to regain your sense of peace, so you can move forward with confidence and joy.
If you are looking for pregnancy, birth and feeding trauma support in Edinburgh, Glasgow, The Lothians or beyond I’d love to support you on your journey to healing. Please reach out to learn more about how this process can help you.
"My birth didn’t go the way I’d hoped, and for months, I couldn’t stop thinking about what went wrong. Joy helped me move past the disappointment. I no longer feel stuck in those memories and can focus on my life now and have a better sense of closure." Laura - Course Review
Hi, I'm Joy! I'm an antenatal educator, perinatal trauma support worker and breastfeeding counsellor based in West Lothian. Since 2007 I have been supporting expectant parents though birth and the early postnatal period with antenatal courses and more. Check out my website with all the ways I can support you at this time.
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