The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast
Birth trauma is the dark and sometimes scary side of pregnancy & postpartum that no one wants to talk about. But, we're here to change that! I'm Kayleigh, a licensed therapist and birth trauma survivor, determined to bring birth trauma out of the shadows and into the light. When we talk about birth trauma, we take away its power and leave space for healing. Your birth trauma does not need to “happen for a reason." Birth trauma sucks and it’s okay to admit that. Join us as we navigate what it means to heal from birth trauma. You’ll hear from experts in the field as well as others who have experienced birth trauma. Storytelling and education are keys to raising awareness and better understanding how we heal trauma. We don’t do toxic positivity in this space, but you’ll definitely hear some dark humor. You’ll laugh and you’ll cry, but, most importantly, you’ll learn that you’re not alone and that healing is possible. Birth trauma is bullish*it, but your healing is not.
The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast
Ep. 221: A Birth Marked by Racism, HIE, and Survival feat. Ruby
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In this powerful and necessary episode, Ruby shares her story of birth trauma, medical dismissal, and her daughter Rumi’s diagnosis of HIE (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy). Ruby walks us through being sent home multiple times while in labor, giving birth to a baby who was not breathing, surviving a life-threatening postpartum hemorrhage, and navigating the NICU and devastating uncertainty that followed. This conversation also names the role of racism and bias in women’s health—especially toward Indigenous and other marginalized parents—and how being ignored, minimized, and not believed can have life-altering consequences for both parent and baby.
In this episode, we talk about:
🤰 A pregnancy that seemed normal—until everything changed during labor and delivery
🚫 Being sent home multiple times despite leaking fluid and regular contractions
💧 Meconium-stained fluid and clear signs of fetal distress that were downplayed
⏳ Laboring for days, pushing for hours, and being overdue without escalation of care
🩺 Developing an infection (chorioamnionitis) and running a fever during labor
🗣️ Repeated concerns from Ruby and her family about needing a C-section—and not being listened to
✊ How medical dismissal and loss of autonomy can be rooted in systemic bias and racism
🧡 The reality of being an Indigenous woman navigating a healthcare system that often fails to listen to Black and Brown patients
👶 A baby born not breathing, blue, and needing resuscitation and CPAP
🩸 A severe postpartum hemorrhage, retained placenta, D&C, and a life-saving Bakri balloon
🏥 A NICU stay and transfer to a children’s hospital
🧠 A diagnosis of HIE (hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy) and evidence of brain injury on MRI
❄️ Cooling therapy, seizure management, and the terrifying early days of uncertainty
⏰ The “wait and see” reality of the first year after an HIE diagnosis
👣 Milestones, therapy, and later learning her child has mild hemiplegic cerebral palsy
🌱 What healing looks like years later—and learning to live alongside trauma
📚 Obsessively reading medical records, searching for answers, and trying to make sense of what happened
🔥 Why racism and biased care in obstetrics are not abstract—and how they impact real families and real outcomes
Why this episode matters:
✨ Racism in healthcare is real—and it affects who is believed, who is protected, and who receives timely care
✨ Indigenous, Black, and Brown parents are more likely to experience dismissal, delayed care, and worse outcomes
✨ Birth trauma is not just personal—it’s also systemic
✨ HIE and NICU journeys are filled with uncertainty, grief, and fear—but also resilience and love
✨ You deserve to be listened to, respected, and taken seriously in your care
This episode is a call to witness, to believe birthing people—especially Indigenous and other marginalized parents—and to name how bias in medicine can change lives. Ruby’s story is about trauma, survival, motherhood, and the urgent need for more just, respectful, and equitable maternity care. 🤍
For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @thebirthtrauma_mama.
Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services.
Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed by guests on The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official stance, views, or positions of The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast. The content shared is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional or medical advice and/or endorsement.