You Can’t Go Faster Than Nature
Understanding Birth Imprints Through Occupational Therapy
We’re in the middle of Birth Trauma Awareness Week 2025, and one thing is becoming increasingly clear: more people are starting to understand that birth doesn’t always end when the baby is born.
For many mothers and birthing people, the experience of birth leaves something behind. Not just the memory of it, but a felt imprint—something that lives in the body, the nervous system, and in the way daily life unfolds afterwards.
In my work as an perinatal and women’s occupational therapist, I support people to gently make sense of this. And the idea I come back to again and again is this:
You can’t go faster than nature.
And your healing is no exception.
So, what are birth imprints?
A birth imprint is the lasting impact a birth experience can have—not just emotionally, but physically and neurologically.
We might expect the body to “bounce back,” but the truth is, it often holds onto things.
A difficult or overwhelming birth can imprint itself through:
Feeling jumpy or on edge (or totally numb)
Struggling with rest, feeding, or being touched
A sense of disconnection from your body or identity
Finding everyday tasks—like making a meal or leaving the house—suddenly really hard
Grief or anger that doesn’t quite make sense
These imprints aren’t always dramatic. Sometimes they’re subtle, but persistent. They can shape how we feel in our bodies, how we move through the day, and how safe we feel in ourselves and in our relationships.
And often, they’re not spoken about.
“Shouldn’t I be over this by now?”
This is a question I hear a lot.
And my response is always gentle:
Healing isn’t about timelines. It’s about safety. And capacity. And the right kind of support.
Birth is a big event. For some, it’s empowering. For others, it’s destabilising or even traumatic. Sometimes it’s both.
You might be physically “recovered” and still feel far from settled in yourself. And that’s valid.
The truth is, you can’t go faster than nature.
And healing—real, embodied healing—often asks us to slow down, not speed up.
How Occupational Therapy Can Help
You might not immediately think of occupational therapy when it comes to birth recovery. But this is where OT shines—especially when we look at how birth affects not just the body, but your roles, your routines, and your sense of who you are.
Here’s how I work with birth imprints in a trauma-aware, body-centred way:
1. Rebuilding body trust
Through gentle, somatic approaches, we explore how to feel safe in your body again—without rushing or pushing.
2. Nervous system regulation
We use sensory tools and nervous system education to help you move out of overwhelm or shutdown and find a more grounded rhythm day to day.
3. Making sense of your story
Sometimes the birth story hasn’t been told, or hasn’t felt heard. We hold space to explore it, not just with words but with curiosity about how it lives in the body.
4. Re-engaging with daily life
We look at what’s hard right now—feeding, resting, connecting, getting dressed—and work together to gently reintroduce rhythm and support into those tasks.
Occupational therapy brings compassion, clinical understanding, and practical tools to support you in real life. It meets you where you are.
You’re not broken. You’re not behind.
The impact of birth can ripple far beyond those early weeks, and that’s not something to be ashamed of. You’re doing your best to adapt, make sense of things, and show up in a life that may feel completely changed.
This work is slow, tender, and powerful—just like you.
And you don’t have to walk it alone.
If any of this feels familiar, or if you’ve felt that something just hasn’t settled since your birth experience, it’s okay to reach out. Whether it’s weeks, months, or years later—your story still matters. And it’s never too late to tend to those imprints with care.