Service : Birth in Mind Service

We can help if you are experiencing difficulties relating to birth trauma or if you are currently pregnant and experiencing severe fear of birth.

Birth Trauma Pathway (BTP)

Birth trauma is a form of post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, related to the experience of giving birth or perinatal loss. Perinatal loss can include miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth, termination of pregnancy, and neonatal death. We can provide therapy and treatments to help you recover and rebuild your life.

Phase 1: Psychoeducation

We talk about what PTSD is, and the strategies you can use to manage distress and cope with feelings like shame, guilt, and self-criticism.

Phase 2: Memory reprocessing

We offer Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Phase 3: Reclaiming life

Together we think about your personal values and any future goals you want to work towards.

Fear of Birth Pathway (FOB)

We can help if you’re currently pregnant and have a severe fear of birth which affects your daily life and experience of pregnancy.

Assessment and psychoeducation

You can share your concerns about birth with our maternity team, who will work alongside healthcare professionals to support your psychological wellbeing.

Psychological birth care plan

We co-create a plan with you covering the practical and interpersonal ways of boosting your wellbeing during the birth and postnatally.

Postnatal review

4-8 weeks after you've given birth, we will follow up about your wellbeing and guide you to further support if required.

To access our service, you must be aged 18 or over and referred by a healthcare professional, such as your GP, maternity team, perinatal team, or health visitor.

Contact your GP for further advice to find the right service for you.

Professionals who are not employed by Berkshire Healthcare can make a referral via The Gateway.

If we accept your referral, we’ll contact you to arrange your first assessment appointment. If we feel that an alternative service would support you better, we will update your referrer with our recommendations.

Birth Trauma Pathway (BTP) referral criteria:

We accept referrals if your PTSD from your experience of giving birth or perinatal loss is the primary presenting difficulty. Your traumatic experience does not need to be recent.

Trauma-focused therapy can be intensive and emotionally demanding, so it’s important when deciding if it is the right time to begin therapy that you are:

• in a stable social situation (including housing and finances)
• able to attend regular sessions
• not experiencing any ongoing threats that would affect trauma therapy
• in a period of stabilisation if you have recently been admitted to a psychiatric ward, in contact with mental health crisis services, misusing substances, experiencing suicidal thoughts, or self-harming

Fear of Birth Pathway (FOB) referral criteria:

We accept referrals if you’re experiencing fear of birth that significantly impacts daily life and you are currently pregnant (but at no more than 32 weeks gestation, or at least eight weeks before the planned/estimated due date, to have enough time to engage with support).

If you are currently in contact with a mental health crisis service or have thought of harm to yourself, then you may need to work with another mental health team before referral.

Your assessment appointment may take place remotely (via video call) or in person at our clinic in Reading. We’ll ask if you have a preference and confirm the appointment type with you.

Assessment appointments typically last around 60-90 minutes.

During the session, we will talk with you about your experiences, current difficulties, and goals for treatment. This helps us understand how best to support you.

We won’t ask you to talk in detail about the traumatic events you have experienced. We may ask you to tell us briefly about these experiences, but only as much as you feel comfortable sharing.

After your appointment, you are welcome to take a break in our waiting area.

Advice for friends and family