Far too many women experience birth trauma – and we know that some birth traumas are preventable.
Preventing Birth Trauma is an evidence-based, practical guide on how to minimise the risk of birth trauma. Covering topics like how to make the birth environment positive and calming, birth supports, informed consent, preventing birth injuries, pain management, resisting coercion… and many more valuable topics for every birthing woman.
Preventing Birth Trauma goes beyond focusing on just avoiding trauma, however – it also explicitly covers the steps involved for a positive birth. If you want a great and empowering birth – you won’t want to miss this book.
Preventing Birth Trauma is a gift to your future birthing self, or someone you care about. It is support, care, protection, expert advice, and practical steps all rolled into one book.
Whether this is your first baby, fifth baby, or you’ve experienced birth trauma before and want this time to be different, this book provides the most important steps to achieve your best and safest birth.
There is no other book like Preventing Birth Trauma. It’s the must-read for every pregnant woman.
Advance Reviews
“A practical, evidence-based, and deeply compassionate guide for navigating pregnancy and birth. Dr Emma Black brings together research, clinical expertise, and practical strategies to help women make informed decisions and feel more prepared for birth. An important addition to the growing conversation about birth trauma.”
– Dr Erin Bowe, Clinical and Perinatal Psychologist and author of ‘More Than a Healthy Baby’, ‘Social Media Detox for Mums’, and ‘Birth Trauma: Tools to Cope’.
“I have just finished reading Dr Emma’s book on ‘Preventing Birth Trauma’ and as a midwife myself, I felt simultaneously excited to be able to recommend such a valuable tool kit to my pregnant patients, learnt some things myself to help teach pregnant women antenatally, and reflected on my own labours and births throughout the book. I wish that every pregnant woman can feel this empowered to educate and advocate for themselves in their birthing space and feel truly supported and seen by the people that matter the most to them. If you are pregnant or considering pregnancy, I whole heartedly recommend getting yourself a copy of Dr Emma’s book to give you an invaluable opportunity to create a birth space that feels just right for you!”
– Sarah Gulliver Endorsed Midwife/ Registered Nurse
“It is a pleasure to recommend Preventing Birth Trauma by Dr Emma Black.
As someone who works closely with women through pregnancy, birth preparation, and postnatal recovery, I found this book both practical and deeply compassionate. Emma has a way of speaking about birth trauma that does not dismiss fear but holds it carefully while helping women feel more informed, supported, and able to trust their own voice. She gives women language, tools, and permission to ask questions, make informed decisions, and feel like active participants in their own birth.
The way the book connects emotional safety with physical safety was especially meaningful to me. It isn’t common to see this connection explored in such a compassionate, clear, and all-encompassing way.
In my work as a pelvic floor physiotherapist, I often see that birth recovery is not only about the body healing. It is also about whether a woman can adapt to her new role as a mother while feeling respected, informed, supported, and believed. Our society needs to create a nourishing and supportive environment for new mothers to thrive, and I believe Emma honours women and their experience beautifully in this book.
Preventing Birth Trauma is accessible, thoughtful, and genuinely useful. It will be my absolute pleasure to recommend it to my pregnant patients, birth partners, and clinicians who want to better understand how we can help women feel safer, more prepared, and more supported through birth and beyond.”
– Alina Filipe Nunes, MACP APA Titled Women’s, Men’s and Pelvic Health Physiotherapist
