In this full-day workshop we focus on:

  • Common challenges experienced by the perinatal professional providing care to a sexual abuse survivor

  • Types of abuse

  • Brain development and brain changes as a result of trauma

  • The impact of trauma on the brain and brain development

  • Understanding toxic stress

  • The impact of childhood sexual abuse on:

    • Childhood

    • Adulthood

    • The pregnancy period

    • The birthing period

    • The postpartum period

  • Clinical challenges and possible solutions

  • Triggers and how to help your clients manage them

  • Supporting abuse and trauma survivors through the childbearing year

  • Navigating the birthing experience without experiencing additional trauma.

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

  • The importance of consent

  • Tools for provider self-care

  • Regulation  

All prices listed in Canadian currency.

Cost: $150 +GST

CEUs: Approved for 6.75 contact hours with ICEA

Limited amount of books for Canadian students available- $70 including shipping (local pickup available for Calgary - email jenn@birthrootsdoulas.com if interested in the book).


Upcoming Workshops

Contact us for dates


Register below

When Survivors Give Birth 

Approximately every 68 seconds, a person is sexually assaulted in North America. Sexual violence affects millions of people. If you are working with pregnant birthing and postpartum families, you will have clients who have been sexually assaulted, whether they self-identify or not. Nurses, Midwives, Physicians, Mental Health professionals, Allied Health professionals, Doulas, or anyone working with childbearing people will gain knowledge and skills in this one-of-a-kind workshop, which is the culmination of decades of collaboration and research between Penny Simkin, PT, CCE, CD(DONA), and Phyllis Klaus, MFT, LMSW,  authors of the 2004 book, When Survivors Give Birth.

This important client care workshop focuses on understanding the effects of childhood sexual abuse and providing trauma informed-care to childbearing families. Join maternity care, mental health and allied providers to focus on one of the least understood, but most important issues facing pregnant clients.

Why should you take this course?

This is a heavy topic that is essential for anyone who works with birthing families. Jenn navigates this sensitive topic with professionalism, skill and intention in order to support every attendee who joins the workshop.

The pregnancy, birthing and postpartum period is a time of great vulnerability for the expectant or new parent. There are many things intrinsic to this period that can trigger survivors and create additional trauma.

Childhood sexual abuse survivors overall can experience:

  • Longer labours

  • Negative birth experiences

  • Disturbing memories of childhood sexual abuse during delivery

  • Major difficulty with procedures such as vaginal exams, feeling a loss of control and a potential lack of modesty.

  • Trauma re-organizes the way that the brain manages perceptions. It is complex and people respond to trauma in different ways. The more we can understand how to support the survivor, the more we can meet the needs of each individual person and help them to move through the childbearing year with confidence.

After attending this workshop, you can begin to hone your skills as a provider in this area and make a huge difference by helping to support a positive experience for survivors. Creating an environment of safety, dignity and personal control with understanding, empathy, and connection are the cornerstones to trauma-informed care. 

About the Trainer

Jenn Fontaine has completed numerous courses in trauma work and was personally trained by Penny Simkin in birth trauma work. She travels around the world as a workshop facilitator and conference speaker helping others understand how trauma can affect the childbearing years.

Jenn grew up in a home with foster brothers and sisters and saw the effects of sexual abuse and trauma on children. As a birth professional, she recognized similar behaviors and starting making connections in some clients that she worked with.

Jenn began to study the long-lasting effects and unique presentations of trauma in the pregnancy, birthing and postpartum period. Through her course work, and most importantly, working with families, she has become an expert in this field.

Jenn is a wife, a mom to four, a loss and trauma survivor, a trainer and a mentor. She lives and practices in Winnipeg, Manitoba.