Birth can be life changing in beautiful ways, but it can also leave women carrying fear, confusion, or unresolved emotional pain, especially when the experience felt rushed, dismissive, or frightening. In this episode of The Science Chick Report, Dr. Kathleen Kendall Tackett sits down with trauma specialist Dr. George Rhoades to explore how Trauma First Aid, a method used around the world in disaster settings, can be applied to perinatal women who have endured traumatic births, medical mistreatment, or overwhelming postpartum experiences.

Dr. Rhoades explains how Trauma First Aid works by creating a safe space for mothers to share their story, helping them identify the problems left behind by the experience, and guiding them toward realistic solutions that restore a sense of control and grounding. Together, he and Dr. Kathleen examine the subtle ways birth trauma shows up, from unmedicated C sections to cold or dismissive medical care, and why early, compassionate support can prevent long term psychological harm.

This conversation offers a clear and practical framework for doulas, nurses, lactation consultants, and anyone supporting new mothers. It also provides powerful validation to women who may smile on the outside but feel shaken on the inside, reminding them that their experience deserves to be heard and healed.

In This Episode:

• (00:26) Meet Dr. George Rhoades, disaster psychology expert

• (01:09) Understanding trauma first aid

• (01:44) The impact of birth trauma

• (02:37) Psychological first aid in crisis situations

• (02:55) Comparing trauma responses in Vietnam and WWII veterans

• (03:55) Addressing trauma in unmarried pregnancies

• (04:30) Practical solutions for trauma recovery

• (05:16) The importance of hope in trauma counseling

• (06:21) Challenges in postpartum care

• (10:33) Debriefing and long-term trauma counseling

• (13:00) Supporting postpartum mothers

• (16:53) The role of supportive friends and family

• (17:51) Handling grief and loss

• (18:42) The importance of listening and follow-up

• (19:37) Understanding trauma responses

• (22:04) Practical skills for coping with trauma

• (24:25) When to seek professional help

• (26:36) Training laypeople for trauma support worldwide

• (27:50) Moral injury among caregivers and birth workers

• (31:53) How birth trauma inspires some mothers to enter birth work

• (32:04) Final thoughts and gratitude

Notable Quotes:

• (01:30) “Anything that's devastating has trauma.”— Dr. George

• "(05:20) “Having hope that they will get better will help many people just be able to keep pushing through.”— Dr. George

• (07:07) “It’s amazing when you look at the literature how abusive some of this stuff is. Even in supposedly prestigious medical centers.” — Dr. Kathleen

• (09:58) “In South Korea, they don't believe in having a co. Epidural. They think you should suffer some pain.” — Dr. George

• (29:57) “If you go through a trauma and there's some injustice done, there has to be some form of justice.” — Dr. George

• (31:48) “I can't tell you how many people I know that have gotten into birth work because of what happened to them” — Dr. Kathleen

Resources and Links

The Science Chick Report

• The Science Chick Report

Dr. George Rhoades

• Website

• LinkedIn

Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett

• Website

• LinkedIn

• X

• Facebook

• ResearchGate (upcoming paper)

Mentioned

• When Hello Means Goodbye

• End of Beginnings