3-Step Rewind
A gentle process to move on from birth trauma,
or difficult perinatal experience
Coming soon!
If you are struggling emotionally after experiencing a difficult or traumatic birth - firstly, please know that it's not your fault, and you are not alone.
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Birth trauma can affect anyone, no matter what type of birth you had, or how long ago your experience was.
This gentle 3 step rewind process offered by Balancing Birth can help you to release the associated negative emotions, and move on from your experience.
What is Birth Trauma?
Birth can be a beautiful and empowering experience. But for many people, it can also feel distressing or even traumatic.
After your birth, you may be left with unexpected feelings such as grief, anger, anxiety, or shame. You might find yourself reliving parts of the experience over and over, or avoiding thinking about it altogether because it feels too overwhelming.
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Birth trauma can arise for many different reasons. It’s not only about what happened, but how what happened made you feel.
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You may have experienced:
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A birth that didn’t go as you had hoped or planned
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Medical interventions that felt sudden or frightening
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A loss of control during labour or birth
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Not feeling listened to, respected, or supported
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Moments that felt invasive, exposing, or even violating​​
When your birth experience turns out very different to how you imagined, or hoped it would be, it can be very hard to process and to move on from without support.
The Birth Trauma Association defines birth trauma as any physical or emotional distress experienced during or after childbirth.
For some, these feelings may fade with time, but for others, they can linger and have a real impact on daily life. You might feel disconnected, on edge, or not quite like yourself.
Research suggests that:
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Around 30% of women and birthing people describe their birth as traumatic
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Up to 5% may go on to develop PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
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It’s also important to recognise that birth partners can experience trauma too.​​
How Does the 3 Step Rewind Process Work?​
When we experience something frightening or overwhelming, the brain’s alarm system - the amygdala - activates our fight or flight response. This is a natural, protective reaction designed to keep us safe from perceived danger. When in this triggered state, our hippocampus - the part of the brain responsible for processing and storing memories - can become overwhelmed. When this happens, the experience may not be fully processed or “filed away” as something that is in the past. Instead, the memory and the intense emotions connected to it can become closely linked.
This is why you might:
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Feel like you are reliving parts of the experience
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Notice strong emotional or physical reactions when reminded of it
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Feel stuck, as though your body is still responding to the event
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Each time the memory is triggered, the brain can react as though the danger is happening again now — reinforcing that cycle.
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How the Rewind Process Helps
The Rewind process works by gently helping the brain to reprocess the memory in a safe and controlled way.
Using guided relaxation and specific visualisation techniques, it allows the memory to be “revisited” without activating the same intense emotional response.
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This helps the brain to:
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Recognise that the event is in the past
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Separate the memory from the overwhelming feelings
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Reduce the need for the amygdala to trigger a stress response
Over time, this means the memory can be stored more appropriately, like other past experiences, without causing distress when recalled.
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What you can expect
The 3 Step Rewind is a simple yet very effective in reducing the emotional impact of difficult or distressing birth experiences.
Many people describe feeling:
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A sense of release
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Greater emotional distance from the experience
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A feeling of lightness or calm where distress once was
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It’s important to know that it may not remove every feeling completely. However, it can significantly reduce the intensity of trauma responses, helping you move forward with more ease and confidence.
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Is This Right for You?
The 3 Step Rewind process may not be appropriate for you if you feel you may be experiencing symptoms of more severe trauma, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD).
If this applies to you, it’s important to seek support through your GP or a qualified healthcare professional, who can help guide you towards the right care for your needs. If you are unsure you may find this PTSD checklist useful
The Process Involves 3 Stages:
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Session one
Understanding & Preparation
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You’ll have the opportunity to share your birth experience, if you feel comfortable to do so — but there is absolutely no requirement to revisit details for the process to be effective.
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We’ll talk through the Rewind process, so you know exactly what to expect.
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We’ll explore how your experience may still be affecting you in day-to-day life.
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Together, we’ll begin to identify how you would like to feel instead, and what life could look like without those difficult emotionsYou’ll be guided through a calming relaxation practice, helping your body start to feel safe again​​.
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Session Two
The Rewind Process
This is where the core transformation takes place.
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You’ll be guided through the Rewind process in a safe, deeply relaxed state.
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This allows your brain to revisit the memory without re-triggering the same emotional responses.
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The process works to gently break the link between the memory and the distressing feelings.
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You’ll also begin to connect with your desired emotional state, creating space for new, more positive feelings​.
Session Three
Integration & Moving forwards.​
This session is about consolidating the changes and supporting your next steps.
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We’ll check in on how you’ve been feeling since the previous session.
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Review and re-scale any remaining symptoms, noticing what has shifted.
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You’ll be guided through a further relaxation session to help embed these positive changes.
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If needed, we can revisit the Rewind process to deepen the results.​
This process is always led at your pace, with your safety and comfort at the centre.You remain in control throughout - and there is no need to relive your experience in detail for it to be effective.
We allow up to 90 minutes for the first session, 60-90 minutes for sessions two, and 30-60 minutes for session three.
The sessions are generally offered over zoom as this allows you to feel completely relaxed in your own environment. However, if you feel face-to-face appointments would suit you better, this can be arranged in the comfort of your own home.
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You don’t have to keep carrying this on your own.
Take the first step towards feeling lighter
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If you feel ready to move forward, you can book your 3 Step Rewind sessions, or get in touch to see if this feels right for you.
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Your investment - £195 for 3 sessions
