Understanding Dad Birth Trauma: Signs, Symptoms, and Support

Oct 12

Becoming a parent is a huge life change, and for some, the birth experience itself can be really tough. It's not always talked about, but dads can experience trauma too, and it's important to understand what dad birth trauma is. This can affect how they feel, how they connect with their new baby, and even their relationships. Let's break down the signs, what might cause it, and how to get support.

Key Takeaways

Dad birth trauma is a real thing, stemming from frightening or overwhelming experiences during childbirth, affecting emotional and psychological well-being.
Signs can include intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, nightmares, and avoidance behaviors, impacting daily life and relationships.
Physical symptoms like headaches and digestive issues can also surface as the body holds onto stress from the traumatic event.
Support is vital, including open communication with partners, seeking professional help when needed, and connecting with others who understand.
Healing is possible through therapeutic approaches and building a strong support system, leading to improved well-being and family connection.

Understanding Dad Birth Trauma

Childbirth is supposed to be a joyous occasion, right? For many dads, though, the reality can be quite different. It's not just the mom who can be affected by a difficult birth; fathers can experience significant emotional and psychological distress too. This is often called dad birth trauma, and it's a real thing that deserves attention.

What Constitutes Dad Birth Trauma

Dad birth trauma isn't about a specific medical event, but rather the father's personal experience of the birth. It happens when a dad perceives the birth as frightening, overwhelming, or a threat to his partner or baby's safety. This can happen even if, from a medical standpoint, everything went 'okay.' It's about how it felt to him. Think about it: seeing your partner in extreme pain, feeling helpless, or witnessing unexpected medical emergencies can be incredibly jarring. It's not about being weak; it's a normal reaction to a situation that felt out of control.

The Subjective Experience of Trauma

What one person finds traumatic, another might not. For dads, this means that even if the birth plan was followed perfectly, certain moments can stick with them. Maybe it was the sheer intensity of the labor, the fear of losing his partner or baby, or feeling completely sidelined and unable to help. These subjective experiences are what truly define trauma. It's the internal feeling of threat and distress, not just the external events. This is why fathers can experience significant mental health challenges after a difficult birth; their internal world was deeply impacted.

Recognizing the Signs of Dad Birth Trauma

So, how do you know if a dad is struggling? The signs aren't always obvious, and they can pop up weeks or even months later. It's not just about feeling sad; it can show up in a lot of different ways. Here are some common things to look out for:

Intrusive Thoughts and Memories: Suddenly replaying scary moments from the birth, feeling like you're back there again.
Hypervigilance: Constantly being on edge, scanning for danger, and having a really strong startle response to loud noises.
Nightmares and Sleep Disturbances: Trouble sleeping, or having bad dreams about the birth that leave you feeling exhausted.
Avoidance Behaviors: Going out of your way to avoid anything that reminds you of the birth, like certain places or even conversations.
Emotional Numbness or Detachment: Feeling disconnected from your partner, your new baby, or even yourself.
Irritability and Anger: Snapping easily or feeling a general sense of frustration that's hard to shake.
Physical Symptoms: Things like headaches, muscle tension, or stomach problems that don't have a clear medical reason.

Psychological Symptoms of Dad Birth Trauma

When a dad experiences birth trauma, it's not always obvious. It's not just about what happened physically during the birth, but how the dad felt about it. Sometimes, these feelings and reactions can really mess with your head, making everyday life feel harder than it should be. It's like your brain is stuck replaying a bad movie, and you can't change the channel. These psychological symptoms can show up in a few different ways, and recognizing them is the first step to getting help.

Intrusive Thoughts and Memories

These are those unwanted thoughts or images that pop into your head out of nowhere, often related to the birth. You might be doing something totally normal, like making breakfast, and suddenly you're right back in the middle of a stressful moment from the delivery. It can feel like you're reliving it, and it's really hard to shake off. These aren't just memories; they feel real and can be pretty upsetting. It's like a glitch in your brain that keeps bringing up the worst parts of the experience.

Hypervigilance and Exaggerated Startle Response

This means you're constantly on edge, always scanning for danger even when you're safe at home. A loud noise, like a door slamming or the baby crying suddenly, might make you jump out of your skin. Your body's alarm system is stuck in overdrive. This can make it hard to relax, even when you're supposed to be unwinding. It's like your nervous system is still expecting something bad to happen, even though the event is over. This constant state of alert is exhausting.

Nightmares and Sleep Disturbances

Sleep can become a real problem. You might have nightmares about the birth, replaying the scary parts over and over. Even when you're not dreaming, you might have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep because you're too keyed up. This goes beyond just being tired from a new baby; it's a deeper disturbance where sleep itself feels unsafe. Waking up in a cold sweat is not uncommon.

Avoidance Behaviors

Your mind tries to protect you by making you avoid things that remind you of the traumatic birth. This could mean taking a different route to avoid passing the hospital, or even avoiding conversations about the birth altogether. You might also find yourself putting off doctor's appointments or anything that brings you back to that stressful time. It's your brain's way of trying to keep you safe, but it can end up making you feel more isolated.

Emotional and Mental Health Challenges

The mental load after a traumatic birth can be heavy, and for dads, it sometimes feels completely overwhelming and isolating. Emotional and mental health struggles aren’t always talked about openly, but they show up often and can affect every part of life. It’s important to acknowledge that dads are just as vulnerable to birth trauma as moms, even if they aren’t the ones physically giving birth.

Persistent Negative Emotions

You might expect to feel joy or relief after your child is born, but that’s not always the reality for dads who witnessed or experienced a traumatic birth. Instead, many fathers are left with:

Deep sadness that seems to hang around for weeks or months
Frequent anger or irritability, sometimes triggered by small things
A constant sense of disappointment or emptiness

These emotions are stubborn. They can crop up even while holding your baby or spending time with your family, making it confusing to sort out what went wrong. Sometimes, people around you—even family—can struggle to understand, which just adds to the sense of loneliness.

Feelings of Guilt and Shame

Struggling with birth trauma often brings a heap of guilt and shame. Fathers sometimes ask themselves things like:

Could I have done something differently to help my partner?
Was it wrong to feel so scared or helpless?
Shouldn’t I just be happy we’ve got a healthy baby?

Societal expectations can pile on extra pressure, making it seem like dads shouldn’t struggle or need support. But these feelings are not a sign of weakness; they're a very normal reaction to witnessing something distressing. As paternal mental health research shows, fathers' mental distress genuinely matters, both for themselves and their children.

Heightened Anxiety and Worry

Anxiety after birth trauma can sneak in and set up camp, sometimes without any warning. Common signs include:

Racing thoughts about your baby's or partner’s safety
Feeling on edge and waiting for “the next bad thing” to happen
Difficulty concentrating on work or enjoying downtime

Sometimes this anxiety grows into constant worry and becomes so distracting that it gets in the way of sleep, relationships, and ordinary life. It may also make it hard to let others help with the baby because you fear they’ll do something wrong.

If you’re noticing these challenges, you’re not alone, and it’s absolutely valid to reach out for help or talk about it. Birth trauma isn’t something you can simply “get over”—it’s an experience that needs space, understanding, and support.

Physical Manifestations of Birth Trauma

It's not just in your head, you know? Sometimes, after a really tough birth, your body just holds onto all that stress and fear. It's like your nervous system is still stuck in emergency mode, even when you're safe at home. This can show up in ways you might not expect, making everyday life feel harder than it needs to be.

Chronic Headaches and Muscle Tension

Ever feel like you've got a constant band of tightness around your head or shoulders? That's often your body's way of reacting to trauma. The muscles tense up, ready for danger that isn't there anymore. This can lead to persistent headaches, neck pain, and a general feeling of being wound up tight. It's not just stress; it's your body's physical response to a deeply unsettling experience. Sometimes, just acknowledging this physical tension is the first step toward easing it. You might find that simple things like gentle stretching or even just a warm bath can offer some relief, though it's not a magic fix.

Digestive Issues

Your gut and your brain are super connected, and when you're stressed or traumatized, your digestive system can really take a hit. Things like unexplained stomach aches, changes in bowel habits, or even nausea can pop up. It's your body's way of saying something's not right, even if there's no clear medical reason for it. This can be really frustrating because it's hard to pinpoint, and it can make you feel generally unwell, adding another layer to the challenges of new parenthood. It's worth talking to your doctor about these symptoms, just to rule out other causes, but also to acknowledge that they might be linked to your birth experience.

Sleep Disturbances Beyond Fatigue

Sure, new parents are tired. That's a given. But birth trauma can mess with your sleep in a whole different way. It's not just about being exhausted from caring for a newborn. You might find yourself having really vivid nightmares about the birth, or waking up suddenly feeling on edge, even when the baby is sleeping soundly. This kind of sleep isn't restful; it's often interrupted by anxiety or the feeling that you're still in danger. It can leave you feeling drained in a way that just a few extra hours of sleep won't fix. Finding ways to create a more peaceful sleep environment, even with a baby, can be a challenge but is important for healing. You can explore resources on infant sleep for general tips, but remember to prioritize your own rest too.

Impact on Relationships and Family Dynamics

It's not just the birthing parent who feels the aftershocks of a difficult birth. The whole family system can get shaken up, and sometimes, it takes a while to find solid ground again. This can put a real strain on things, especially when you're already dealing with sleepless nights and a whole new human to care for.

Relationship Strain with Partner

When one or both partners experience birth trauma, it can create a chasm between them. Communication might become difficult, with one partner feeling unheard or misunderstood about their experience. There can be a sense of isolation, even when you're in the same room. It's like you both went through something huge, but you're processing it in completely different ways, and that can be really tough to bridge.

Communication Breakdown: Difficulty talking about the birth experience without triggering distress or conflict.
Emotional Distance: Feeling disconnected from each other due to individual trauma responses.
Intimacy Issues: Changes in physical and emotional intimacy can arise from stress, exhaustion, or unresolved trauma.
Differing Coping Styles: Partners may handle the trauma differently, leading to misunderstandings.

Bonding Issues with the New Baby

For the parent who experienced the trauma, connecting with their new baby can be unexpectedly hard. It's not about not loving the child; it's about the mind and body still being in a state of alert or processing the difficult birth. This can manifest as feeling detached, having intrusive thoughts when looking at the baby, or struggling with certain caregiving tasks. It's a heartbreaking situation when you expect to feel an instant bond and instead feel a barrier.

Challenges with Family Support

Sometimes, the people who are supposed to be your biggest cheerleaders just don't quite get it. Family members might minimize the experience, saying things like, "At least the baby is healthy," without acknowledging the parent's distress. This lack of validation can make you feel even more alone. It's important to remember that your feelings are valid, even if others don't fully understand them.

Misunderstanding: Family members may not grasp the lasting emotional impact of birth trauma.
Unsolicited Advice: Well-meaning but unhelpful comments can invalidate the parent's experience.
Feeling Isolated: A lack of perceived support can worsen feelings of loneliness and distress.

Common Causes and Risk Factors

Birth trauma for dads doesn't just appear out of nowhere—certain events, circumstances, and personal histories can set the stage. It's important to remember that what feels deeply distressing or traumatic to one person might not faze another. Below you'll find major causes and risk factors that tend to show up in the stories of dads who are shaken by their child's birth.

Unexpected Medical Interventions

When you walk into that delivery room with a plan, and things change on a dime, it can be jarring. Maybe the birth shifts from a calm atmosphere into a race for an emergency C-section, or doctors suddenly mention forceps or vacuums. Those quick, unplanned decisions can leave dads feeling powerless, like they're watching from the sidelines and unable to help. The sudden loss of control leads many to describe the whole event as happening "to them" as much as to their partner.

Unplanned C-sections
Forceps or vacuum-assisted delivery
Rapid escalation of medical interventions

Perception of Threat During Birth

Fear takes hold fast when you think your partner or baby is in danger. Even if everything works out physically, moments when things don't look good—the baby's heart rate dips, doctors and nurses start rushing, or there's talk of blood loss—can stick with you. That sense of threat doesn't have to match the medical outcome. If, in that moment, you believed something terrible might happen, it can leave a lasting mark.

Bulleted list of common scenarios:

Emergency medical codes called
Rapid shift to surgical intervention
Seeing your partner or baby in visible distress

Prior Trauma or Difficult Birth Experiences

If you've gone through rough times before—the loss of a pregnancy, a difficult first birth, violence or abuse—those memories can come flooding back. Even for dads not giving birth physically, the whole experience can bring up old feelings of fear, helplessness, or despair. Sometimes, just the hospital smell or certain phrases can trigger a stress response rooted in something years ago.

Previous traumatic medical experiences
Earlier complicated or traumatic births
Childhood or adult trauma

Lack of Support or Validation

When doctors, nurses, family, or even friends brush off your feelings, it adds insult to injury. Many dads report feeling invisible during the birth; they're told to "just be strong," or their worries are dismissed, especially if the baby's healthy in the end. Without support or someone saying, "Yeah, that sounded really tough," dads can wind up isolated with their anxiety and replay their distress over and over.

A few situations that can amplify this:

Staff communicating only to the birthing mother, ignoring the partner
Family minimizing the partner's reaction to the event
Friends expecting instant happiness, not understanding lingering worry

At-a-Glance: Top Risk Factors for Dad Birth Trauma

Risk Factor	Common Situations
Unplanned Medical Interventions	Emergency C-section, forceps delivery
Moments of Perceived Threat	Sudden drop in heart rate, medical panic
History of Trauma	Previous medical trauma, prior birth loss
Lack of Social/Emotional Support	Ignored by staff, minimization by others

You don't have to check every box on this table to have experienced trauma; even one or two may be enough. And while birth trauma affects birthing parents at high rates, partners are also at risk. Latest research on postpartum depression shows dads and partners can face similar emotional fallout after a difficult birth.

If anything here feels familiar or you notice lingering stress since the birth, reaching out for understanding and support is absolutely worth your time.

When Professional Mental Health Support is Essential

Sometimes, the feelings and reactions after a difficult birth go beyond what you can manage on your own. It's not a sign of weakness to seek help; it's a sign of strength and self-awareness. If you're experiencing any of the following, it's really important to reach out to a mental health professional. They can offer a safe space and the right tools to help you through this.

Thoughts of Self-Harm or Suicide

If you're having thoughts about hurting yourself or ending your life, please know you're not alone and help is available. These thoughts can be incredibly overwhelming, but they are treatable. Reaching out is the first step toward feeling better. You can contact a crisis hotline or mental health professional immediately.

Inability to Function in Daily Activities

When the stress and emotional toll of birth trauma make it hard to get through the day – like taking care of yourself, your baby, or managing household tasks – it's a clear signal that professional support is needed. This could look like extreme fatigue that sleep doesn't fix, or feeling so overwhelmed you can't start simple tasks.

Thoughts of Harming the Baby

Having thoughts about harming your baby can be terrifying and bring on immense guilt. It's important to understand that having these thoughts doesn't mean you'll act on them. However, they are a serious sign that you need immediate professional support to process these feelings and ensure everyone's safety. Mental health professionals are trained to help parents navigate these difficult thoughts without judgment.

Severe Panic Attacks

While some anxiety is normal after a traumatic event, severe panic attacks that interfere with your ability to care for yourself or your baby are a sign that you need professional help. These attacks can feel like you're losing control, with intense physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, and a sense of dread. Getting support can help you manage these episodes and regain a sense of calm.

Therapeutic Approaches for Healing

Healing from dad birth trauma isn't a one-size-fits-all thing, and what works for one person might not be the best fit for another. It's about finding what helps you process what happened and feel more like yourself again. There are some really helpful methods out there that focus on both your mind and your body, because trauma can really get stuck in both places.

Somatic Resourcing Techniques

Think of somatic resourcing as a way to help your body feel safe again. After a traumatic event, your nervous system can stay on high alert, making you feel jumpy or on edge a lot of the time. Somatic resourcing involves gentle exercises and awareness practices that help you reconnect with your body in a positive way. It's about learning to notice and lean into feelings of calm and safety, even when difficult memories pop up. This can involve simple things like focusing on your breath, noticing the feeling of your feet on the ground, or gently tensing and releasing muscles. The goal is to build up your internal resources so you have a stronger sense of stability and control. It's not about ignoring what happened, but about building a stronger foundation within yourself to handle it. This approach is particularly helpful for understanding birth trauma and its physical effects.

Bilateral Stimulation for Memory Processing

This is a technique that's been shown to help when you're stuck on difficult memories. Bilateral stimulation, often used in therapies like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), involves alternating focus between a distressing memory and a gentle external stimulus, like side-to-side eye movements, tapping, or sounds. The idea is that this back-and-forth processing helps your brain to re-process traumatic memories, making them less intense and less likely to trigger that fight-or-flight response. It's like helping your brain to file away the memory in a way that doesn't feel so overwhelming anymore. It doesn't erase the memory, but it can take away its power to disrupt your daily life. This can be a really effective way to work through the specific events of the birth that felt most frightening.

Mindful Parenting Practices

Mindfulness is all about paying attention to the present moment without judgment. When you're dealing with birth trauma, it's easy to get caught up in what happened or worry constantly about the future. Mindful parenting helps you stay grounded in the here and now with your baby. This can involve simple things like really focusing on the sensations of holding your baby, truly listening to their cries, or noticing the small joys of everyday parenting moments. It's not about being perfect, but about being present. This can help reduce anxiety and improve your connection with your child, even when difficult feelings arise. It's about finding moments of peace and connection amidst the challenges of new parenthood after a tough birth experience.

Building a Support System for Recovery

It can feel really isolating when you're going through something tough like birth trauma. You might feel like no one really gets what you're going through, and that's a heavy burden to carry alone. But here's the thing: you don't have to. Building a solid support system is a huge part of healing, and it's not about being weak, it's about being smart and taking care of yourself. Think of it like building a safety net. The more people and resources you have in that net, the safer you'll feel when you start to heal.

One of the first steps is to actually ask for help. It's easy to think people should just know what you need, but honestly, most people want to help but don't know how. Being specific can make a world of difference. Instead of saying 'I need help,' try 'Could you watch the baby for an hour so I can take a shower?' or 'Would you be able to bring over a meal on Tuesday?' Little things like that can really lighten the load.

Here are some ways to build that support:

Connect with Other Parents: Finding other parents who have gone through similar experiences can be incredibly validating. There are online groups, local meetups, and even just talking to friends who have been there. Hearing their stories and sharing yours can make you feel so much less alone. It's like finding your tribe, people who just get it without you having to explain everything.
Request Medical Debriefs: If there are parts of your birth that are fuzzy or just don't sit right with you, talking to your healthcare provider about a debrief can be really helpful. Going over your medical records and discussing the events can clear up confusion and give you a better sense of what happened. It’s about getting clarity and reclaiming some control over your narrative.
Seek Practical and Emotional Support: This can come from anywhere – your partner, family, friends, or even professional services. Practical help might be someone doing your laundry or picking up groceries. Emotional support is about having someone listen without judgment, offer encouragement, and remind you that you're doing a good job. Don't underestimate the power of just having someone to talk to who truly cares.

Sometimes, the support you need goes beyond friends and family. That's where professional help comes in. Therapists who specialize in birth trauma can offer specific tools and strategies to help you process what happened and move forward. They provide a safe space to talk about things that might be too difficult to share with loved ones, and they have the training to guide you through the healing process. Remember, asking for professional help is a sign of strength, not weakness. It shows you're committed to your recovery and your family's well-being.

The Long-Term Effects of Unaddressed Trauma

When birth trauma isn't properly dealt with, it can cast a long shadow over your life and your family. It's not just about feeling a bit off for a few weeks; this stuff can really stick around and change how you experience things for a long time. It’s like a persistent hum in the background that you can’t quite tune out.

Disrupted Parent-Child Bonding

This is a big one. If you're still wrestling with the memories or the intense feelings from a traumatic birth, it can make it really hard to connect with your new baby. You might feel distant, or find it tough to be fully present when you're holding them or playing with them. It’s not that you don’t love your child – of course you do – but your nervous system is still in overdrive, trying to process what happened. This can lead to a feeling of being disconnected, which is heartbreaking when you’re supposed to be in that blissful newborn phase. Sometimes, parents might even feel a sense of resentment or grief because the bond isn't forming the way they imagined. It’s important to remember that this is a common outcome of trauma, and it doesn't mean you're a bad parent. With the right support, this bond can absolutely be strengthened and healed, allowing for those precious moments of connection to emerge.

Strain on Partnerships

Traumatic births don't just affect the birthing parent; they can put a serious strain on your relationship with your partner too. Your partner might have witnessed the trauma firsthand and could be dealing with their own form of distress, sometimes called secondary trauma. They might feel helpless, unsure of how to support you, or even confused about what happened. Communication can become really difficult. Talking about the birth might bring up painful memories for one or both of you, leading to avoidance. Intimacy, both emotional and physical, can also take a hit. It’s a tough time, and without open communication and mutual understanding, that distance can grow. It’s easy to feel like you’re on different pages, especially when you’re both exhausted and trying to figure out this new parenting role.

Impact on Overall Well-being

Beyond the immediate family unit, unaddressed birth trauma can affect your general sense of well-being. You might find yourself constantly on edge, easily startled, or having trouble sleeping soundly. This hypervigilance can be exhausting and make everyday tasks feel overwhelming. It can also lead to persistent negative emotions like anxiety, guilt, or even depression. This isn't just about the baby blues; it's a deeper emotional impact that can make it hard to enjoy life or feel like yourself. The constant stress can even manifest physically, with things like headaches or muscle tension. When trauma is left unaddressed, it can significantly impact your mental and physical health for years to come. Seeking help is a sign of strength, and it's the first step toward reclaiming your peace and enjoying your family life fully. Learning about healing after birth trauma can be a good starting point.

When difficult experiences from the past aren't dealt with, they can stick around and cause problems later on. These lingering issues can affect how we feel and act in the future. It's important to face these challenges head-on. If you're struggling with past hurts, reaching out for help is a sign of strength. Visit our website today to learn more about how we can support you on your healing journey.

Moving Forward After Birth Trauma

Dealing with birth trauma isn't easy, and it's completely okay to feel overwhelmed or unsure about what comes next. Remember, recognizing the signs and symptoms we've talked about is a huge step. You're not alone in this, and there are people who want to help. Whether it's leaning on friends and family, talking to your doctor, or seeking out professional support like therapy, finding a way to process your experience is key. Healing takes time, and it's different for everyone, but taking that first step towards getting support can make a world of difference. Be kind to yourself through this process; you're doing the best you can.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is dad birth trauma?

Dad birth trauma happens when a father or partner experiences the birth of their child as deeply upsetting or scary. It's not just about witnessing something difficult, but about how those moments felt to them. This can include feeling helpless, scared for their partner or baby, or like they couldn't protect their family. It's a real response to a stressful event.

How is dad birth trauma different from mom's experience?

While both parents can experience trauma, the father's experience might focus more on feeling like an observer who couldn't intervene, or on the stress of seeing their partner in pain or danger. It can also involve guilt if they feel they weren't able to offer enough support or if they feel disconnected from the intense physical experience their partner went through.

What are some common signs that a dad might be struggling with birth trauma?

Dads might show signs like being overly worried about their baby's safety, having trouble sleeping or nightmares about the birth, feeling on edge or easily startled, avoiding talking about the birth, or feeling unusually irritable or withdrawn. Sometimes, they might even have physical symptoms like headaches or stomach issues.

Can birth trauma affect a dad's relationship with his new baby?

Yes, it absolutely can. If a dad is dealing with trauma, he might find it hard to bond with his baby. He might feel anxious about holding or caring for the baby, or struggle to feel that deep connection others talk about. This isn't because he doesn't love his child, but because the trauma is getting in the way.

What can cause a dad to experience birth trauma?

Several things can contribute. This could be a very difficult or unexpected birth, like an emergency C-section, or if the mom or baby had serious health issues. Feeling like they didn't have enough information, weren't listened to by medical staff, or having a history of other difficult experiences can also make someone more likely to experience trauma.

When should a dad seek professional help for birth trauma?

If the difficult feelings don't go away after a few weeks, or if they start to seriously impact daily life, work, or relationships, it's a good idea to get help. This is especially true if a dad is having thoughts of harming himself or others, can't take care of himself or his baby, or is experiencing severe panic attacks.

What kind of support is available for dads dealing with birth trauma?

There are several options. Talking to a therapist who specializes in birth trauma is very helpful. Support groups where dads can connect with others who've had similar experiences can also be incredibly valuable. Sometimes, just talking openly with a partner or trusted friend can make a difference too.

Is it normal for dads to feel guilty about experiencing birth trauma?

It's very common for dads to feel guilty. They might feel they should have been stronger, or that they shouldn't be struggling when their partner is also going through a lot. It's important to remember that experiencing trauma is not a sign of weakness, and these feelings of guilt are a part of the healing process that therapy can help with.

Dr. Maya Weir