Birth Debriefing in Cairns
A safe, structured session to process a past birth experience. Trauma-aware birth support in Cairns for women who need space to understand what happened and find a way forward.
If Your Birth Still Feels Unfinished, You’re Not Alone
Some women know straight away that their birth was traumatic. For others, it’s a quieter feeling. Something that sits beneath the surface. A sense that what happened wasn’t fully understood, explained, or processed.
You might replay certain moments. You might feel angry, confused, or sad without being able to pinpoint why. You might have questions no one has answered. Or you might feel like you’re supposed to be over it by now, but you’re not.
Whatever your experience, it’s valid. And you don’t have to carry it alone.
A birth debrief is a space to revisit your experience with someone who understands maternity care, listens without judgement, and can help you make sense of what happened.
What Happens in a Birth Debriefing Session
A birth debriefing session is a single, in-depth conversation with Caitlin. It’s structured, trauma-aware, and completely focused on your experience.
This is sometimes called a birth reflection session, and it’s available to women across Far North Queensland whether or not you received care through Beneath the Palms Midwifery.
Here’s what the session includes:
Space to share your birth story without interruption
Time to explore the emotions, expectations, and impact of what happened
Clear, calm explanations of any clinical events or decisions you didn’t understand
Somatic practices to help ease the emotional and physical charge behind your experience
Gentle reframing where it’s helpful, not to minimise, but to provide context
A practical pathway for next steps if further support would be beneficial
The session is not about telling you how to feel. It’s about giving you space and clarity so you can process what happened on your own terms.
This May Be Right for You If...
Your birth felt traumatic, confusing, or deeply disappointing
You have unanswered questions about what happened or why certain decisions were made
You feel angry, sad, or anxious about your birth and it hasn’t eased with time
You’re considering another pregnancy and unresolved fear from your last birth is weighing on you
You want to talk to someone who understands the clinical side and the emotional side
You need a safe space to process your experience without being told to ‘move on’ or ‘be grateful’
You don’t need to label your experience as trauma to benefit from this session. If something feels unresolved, that’s reason enough.
How the Process Works
Before the session
You’ll have a brief conversation with Caitlin to talk through what you’re hoping to get from the session. This helps her prepare and ensures the space feels safe from the moment you arrive.
During the session
You share your story at your own pace. Caitlin listens, asks gentle questions, and offers context where it’s helpful. The session also draws on somatic practices to help ease the emotional charge behind your experience.
This isn’t just talking through what happened. It’s a process that supports your body and your nervous system in releasing what you’ve been carrying. There is no rush. The session is guided by you.
After the session
Many women describe feeling lighter, clearer, or simply relieved to have been heard. If further support would help, whether that’s counselling, continuity of care for a future pregnancy, or simply a follow-up conversation, Caitlin will provide clear next steps.
Questions About Birth Debriefing
There’s no time limit. Some women come weeks after their birth, others years later. Whenever you’re ready is the right time.
No. Birth debriefing is available to any woman in the Cairns and Far North Queensland region, regardless of where or how you gave birth.
You’re welcome to bring them if you have them, but it’s not required. The session is guided by your experience and your questions. Caitlin can help provide clinical context based on what you describe.
That’s completely expected and completely safe. This is a space where your emotions are welcome. Caitlin is experienced in holding space for difficult feelings with care and steadiness.
A birth debrief is a midwifery-led session, not a psychology or counselling appointment. However, the process does draw on somatic practices to help ease the emotional charge behind your experience. It sits in a space between clinical debriefing and therapeutic support. If Caitlin feels you would benefit from ongoing psychological care alongside or after your session, she'll discuss this with you openly and can suggest appropriate referrals.
Still have a question?
Let's get on a call and have a chat.
You Deserve to Feel Heard
If you’ve been carrying something from your birth that feels unresolved, this is a safe place to start. A conversation with Caitlin can help you understand what’s available and whether a birth debrief feels like the right next step. No pressure. Just space.
