WOUNDED IN THE WOMB: AN ENGLISH WOMANS HEALING STORY by Karen Melton 1 At the age of 23 I had a spontaneous flashback to the

womb. It was one of those aha In the flashback I moments in which I felt and perceived myself on many levels.

experienced my mother attempting to abort me, and I had a very familiar feeling in my stomach/umbilical area. It was a stabbing sensation, something Id often felt in relationships, and I didnt like it! In the seconds it took for me to have this amazing experience, I was able to really get that my prenatal experience was profoundly affecting my life right now, on all levels. Wow! This was mind blowing, especially at age 23, before Id ever had any counseling, therapy, etc. From that moment I have been on what will probably be a life long quest, my prenatal and birth journey. For many years I traveled alone. As I began therapy, I drove everyone nuts continually exploring this material. None of the therapists knew anything about it, so I still felt essentially alone. I couldnt understand why no one else was talking about it, and was shocked to discover that Psychotherapy training (in England) began from after birth developmentally! (In America I believe they train therapists from age one developmentally.) Finally, a dear friend waved a program at me one day and said you HAVE to go on this! it was a prenatal and birth workshop in Surrey, England. Three hundred pounds! You must be joking!! I replied. It might as well have been 3,000 to me, as I was a single parent living on the poverty line. She said I dont care how you get it, borrow it, beg for it, just get it, you have to go on this! Well, I got the money, as one does when important things are at stake, and went to the workshop. As soon as I walked into the room I knew that this At the workshop leader could go there with me and relief is too small a word to describe how this felt to me after so many years of searching for someone who could help me. same time I felt enormous terror rise up in me. I had felt terrified all my life, especially in

groups, and had often joined them curious to find out why they scared me so much. Talking, especially about emotions, in a group was particularly terrifying; coming out, being seen and heard. My strategy for surviving in the womb after my mothers attempted abortion upon me, was to play dead. I stayed very still and quiet. Consequently, at a deep level I always felt that as soon as they (any other human being) knew I was there, I would be annihilated. Id learnt how, as a matter of survival, to always keep the lid on my terror and
ONE ON ONE | WOMB PROCESS WORKSHOPS | BABY CENTERED FAMILY WORK PREPARING BEFORE PREGNANCY | PRENATAL BONDING | HEALING FOR PREGNANT PARENTS INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL TALKS KAREN MELTON

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WOUNDED IN THE WOMB: AN ENGLISH WOMANS HEALING STORY by Karen Melton 2 to do what I wanted, in spite of it. We began the group with a go round, and before Id even told anyone my name, I went into a full-on, flat out terror attack, sobbing, panicking, unable to speak. This was amazing! This was the first time in my life that I had been able to let myself really have that terror, I had never let it out before, nor had a huge panic like this. I had always been very controlled emotionally, so this was very shocking to me and most out of character. I think Dr Emerson may have thought I was a hysteric, so he completely ignored me at the time and went on talking as if nothing was happening. During this workshop I didnt directly deal with my abortion trauma. It was many years, and much therapy later, before I was able to do that. of healing my core wound. Dr Emerson used a direct regression technique, and we regressed into many places during the workshop: birth, pre-discovery (that time before your parents know youre there), and conception. I experienced myself as a cell dividing, and thats still one of the most amazing experiences Ive ever had, to have a felt-sense of cell division in my body. was all in my describe, and which I have never felt in any other context. To have my prenate seen, held, loved and acknowledged in this workshop, and to be able to talk about what happened to me with someone who knew a lot about it, was incredible. So healing, uplifting, and validating. Like a long awaited meal, this was the real food for me. Since that first workshop 17 years ago, Ive continued to follow, listen to and heal my prenate, Ive learnt to care for her and to give her what she needs to feel safe, and to listen to her wisdom and her feelings. Consciousness around our prenatal and birth experiences, both on a personal and cultural
ONE ON ONE | WOMB PROCESS WORKSHOPS | BABY CENTERED FAMILY WORK PREPARING BEFORE PREGNANCY | PRENATAL BONDING | HEALING FOR PREGNANT PARENTS INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL TALKS KAREN MELTON

Although, indirectly just finding a safe

place for my terror (which I learned was a prenatal terror of annihilation) was the beginning

The sensation

back and felt like energy running up and down in a way I find difficult to

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WOUNDED IN THE WOMB: AN ENGLISH WOMANS HEALING STORY by Karen Melton 3 level, would change the World. I love that bumper sticker Peace on Earth Begins With Birth Support Midwives, except I feel it should read Peace on Earth Begins With Pre-birth.

We all have a vulnerable prenate in us, I hope yours is happy and loved.

ONE ON ONE | WOMB PROCESS WORKSHOPS | BABY CENTERED FAMILY WORK PREPARING BEFORE PREGNANCY | PRENATAL BONDING | HEALING FOR PREGNANT PARENTS INTERACTIVE EDUCATIONAL TALKS KAREN MELTON

707 829 7816

starbear@sonic.net HealYourEarlyImprints.com