Julie feels more resilient, and a lot of healing has taken place.

Written testimony

Yeah. So despite these tears, just thinking about that experience I’m much more resilient today. I have a lot more time – there’s a lot of healing that’s happened. So I still have my birth-related injury. I don’t have pain, thankfully. So that ER doctor was incorrect; I do not have chronic pain. [Laughter] Incorrect. I do not have pain. I do have [a birth injury] still, and so I make lifestyle modifications because of that. And I’ve sought a lot of physiotherapy in my first year of postpartum related to it.

And I – my mental health is much, much, much better. I still am being followed and supported by mental health therapists to help me process the trauma, still, of – I think I experienced multiple traumas. And I think one of those little traumas is from the health system and the lack support that we received that shouldn’t have been the case. Again, this is why, like, when I heard about the study I felt like, you know, if I can contribute in some way that can help maybe advocate for change and maybe help someone else who’s struggling, then that would be a beautiful gift and meaning-making for my experience and my journey that I’ve gone through.

I reflect back on those experiences and I’m so proud that I have gotten through it, that we got through it as a family. And so, yeah, it’s completely different, my life today, than what it was in those first several months postpartum, for sure. Yeah.

---

Go back

More content

• Symptoms – Julie
  Julie feels more resilient, and a lot of healing has taken place.
• Seeking Help and Getting Diagnosis – Julie
  Despite having clearly stated that she was not feeling well, Julie still had to wait weeks before getting support.
• Relationships – Julie
  Julie's husband did not know what to do or how to navigate the health care system to get help.
• Support from Family and Friends – Julie
  A friend of Julie recognized the red flags and helped to get the support she needed.
• Managing Personal Challenges with Sleeping and Eating – Julie
  Looking back, Julie realizes how a chronic lack of sleep spiraled into heightened anxiety.
• Managing New Routines – Julie
  Going from a successful working life to being with her child every day has challenged Julie to expand her skillset.
• Birth Experience and Mental Health – Julie
  After losing a close friend just five days before giving birth, coupled with a traumatic birth experience, Julie was not doing well.
• Advice for Policymakers – Julie
  Julie offered this perspective:
• Advice for Health Care Providers – Julie (clip 2)
  Julie advocates for less medicalized approaches to birth.
• Advice for Health Care Providers – Julie
  Julie advises giving women information at the appropriate times, when they can absorb it.