Lorraine J Radcliffe
May 2026
Lorraine J
Radcliffe
,
CNM
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
Landstuhl
Germany
I couldn’t have asked for a better provider who was trauma-informed and protective of my peace, wishes, and autonomy.
I have a history of sexual assault by a physician, which has been an obstacle to receiving intimate medical care throughout my fertility journey and pregnancy.
Retraumatization occurred during IVF, which caused us to discontinue that journey years ago, and mental health referrals from that encounter led to diagnoses of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. While these diagnoses have been well managed over time and with a lot of personal effort, labor became my biggest fear for no reason other than losing bodily autonomy.
Fast-forward, we became spontaneously pregnant!
I planned for laboring at home until I couldn’t last any longer, but baby had other plans that required constant inpatient monitoring after my water broke at home. My birth preferences requested trauma-informed care, noting my history and fear of physicians. While all of the staff acknowledged my birth preferences, no one advocated for me as Major Radcliffe did.
I labored for 36 hours through two shift changes, and she made me feel safe, heard, and protected like no one else. My biggest fear about labor was my own trauma triggers, the scariest of those for me being cervical checks. Major Radcliffe allowed me to feel my own cervix first, which turned my biggest fear into a core memory when I was the first one to feel my baby’s head.
She also sat with me when things got hard and, between contractions, explained the complexity of my baby’s position and condition and where we might be headed. In desperate attempts to avoid a cesarean section, she talked me through every option and then advocated for me with the obstetrician to attempt other interventions before heading to the OR.
The OB was not reassuring that other attempts would be successful, but Major Radcliffe made me feel hopeful and like I still had enough strength for a vaginal delivery with vacuum assistance. The vaginal delivery was successful thanks to the advocate I had in Major Radcliffe.
I couldn’t have asked for a better provider who was trauma-informed and protective of my peace, wishes, and autonomy. Because of her, I share my birth story with a smile and a grateful heart instead of suppressing more trauma.
I’ve never felt so safe with a provider, especially during such a vulnerable time.
Retraumatization occurred during IVF, which caused us to discontinue that journey years ago, and mental health referrals from that encounter led to diagnoses of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. While these diagnoses have been well managed over time and with a lot of personal effort, labor became my biggest fear for no reason other than losing bodily autonomy.
Fast-forward, we became spontaneously pregnant!
I planned for laboring at home until I couldn’t last any longer, but baby had other plans that required constant inpatient monitoring after my water broke at home. My birth preferences requested trauma-informed care, noting my history and fear of physicians. While all of the staff acknowledged my birth preferences, no one advocated for me as Major Radcliffe did.
I labored for 36 hours through two shift changes, and she made me feel safe, heard, and protected like no one else. My biggest fear about labor was my own trauma triggers, the scariest of those for me being cervical checks. Major Radcliffe allowed me to feel my own cervix first, which turned my biggest fear into a core memory when I was the first one to feel my baby’s head.
She also sat with me when things got hard and, between contractions, explained the complexity of my baby’s position and condition and where we might be headed. In desperate attempts to avoid a cesarean section, she talked me through every option and then advocated for me with the obstetrician to attempt other interventions before heading to the OR.
The OB was not reassuring that other attempts would be successful, but Major Radcliffe made me feel hopeful and like I still had enough strength for a vaginal delivery with vacuum assistance. The vaginal delivery was successful thanks to the advocate I had in Major Radcliffe.
I couldn’t have asked for a better provider who was trauma-informed and protective of my peace, wishes, and autonomy. Because of her, I share my birth story with a smile and a grateful heart instead of suppressing more trauma.
I’ve never felt so safe with a provider, especially during such a vulnerable time.