February 10, 2026
Is EMDR therapy safe in pregnancy? Learn what research shows, when it’s appropriate, and how a trauma-informed approach supports expectant parents safely.
Many people, both clinicians and clients, ask whether EMDR therapy is safe during pregnancy. For clinicians in particular, this concern often originates from a brief sentence in the original EMDR manual written by Francine Shapiro. Over time, the interpretation of this sentence led many trainers to advise against the use of EMDR in pregnancy.
For clients, pregnancy can already feel like an emotionally and physically vulnerable time, and the idea of digging deep into traumatic memories can feel daunting.
More than 20 years on, research now challenges this position. There is a growing and widely accepted body of evidence suggesting that EMDR therapy can be safe during pregnancy and, in some cases, may be an important and necessary intervention. In this article, we explore what the research actually says about using EMDR during pregnancy.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a trauma-focused therapy that helps people process distressing or overwhelming experiences that feel “stuck” in the nervous system. It is widely used to treat trauma, PTSD, and birth-related trauma, including experiences during pregnancy and childbirth.
Rather than focusing on talking through events in detail, EMDR therapy works by helping the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they become less emotionally intense and no longer trigger the same level of distress in the present.
Many clients describe EMDR as helping memories feel further away, less vivid, or less overwhelming over time.
Concerns about using EMDR therapy during pregnancy often focus on whether processing traumatic memories could increase stress for the pregnant person or negatively affect pregnancy outcomes. Over the past two decades, however, a growing body of research has explored this question directly, and the findings are largely reassuring.
One of the earliest concerns about EMDR in pregnancy relates to its classification as an exposure-based trauma therapy. A key review by Arch et al. (2012) examined whether exposure-based cognitive behavioural therapies are safe during pregnancy. The authors found no evidence that appropriately delivered trauma-focused therapy increases risk to pregnancy, and they highlighted the importance of treating significant mental health difficulties rather than avoiding therapy altogether.
This provides an important foundation, as untreated trauma, PTSD, and severe anxiety during pregnancy are themselves associated with poorer outcomes for both parent and baby.
More recent studies have looked specifically at EMDR therapy during pregnancy, particularly in relation to fear of childbirth (tokophobia).
A large multi-centre randomised controlled trial by Baas et al. (2021) investigated the use of EMDR therapy for pregnant women experiencing severe fear of childbirth. The study found that EMDR was effective in significantly reducing fear and trauma symptoms, with no indication of harm associated with treatment.
Crucially, a follow-up study by the same research group (Baas et al., 2023) examined obstetric outcomes in these participants. This study found no increase in adverse pregnancy or birth outcomes among those who received EMDR therapy compared to control groups. The authors concluded that EMDR treatment during pregnancy appeared to be safe from an obstetric perspective.
A systematic review by Baas et al. (2020) explored the effects of treating PTSD during pregnancy, including EMDR therapy. The review highlighted that trauma-focused treatment can lead to reduced PTSD symptoms without negatively affecting pregnancy outcomes. The authors also emphasised that leaving PTSD untreated may pose greater risks than engaging in carefully adapted therapy.
This aligns with a growing clinical consensus that stabilised, well-paced trauma therapy during pregnancy can be protective rather than harmful.
Research has also explored EMDR for women experiencing anxiety following previous loss. Zolghadr et al. (2019) found that EMDR therapy significantly reduced childbirth anxiety in women who had experienced stillbirth, again without evidence of adverse effects related to pregnancy.
This is particularly relevant for people entering pregnancy with pre-existing trauma, where anxiety and hypervigilance may otherwise remain high throughout gestation.
Taken together, current research suggests that EMDR therapy can be safe and effective during pregnancy when delivered by a trained, trauma-informed clinician. Across studies, EMDR has been associated with:
It is important that EMDR in pregnancy should be adapted, carefully paced, and client-led, with a strong emphasis on stabilisation, consent, and ongoing assessment.
While concerns about safety are understandable, it is also important to consider the potential harm of leaving women traumatised during pregnancy. Unprocessed trauma can result in intrusive flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, dissociation, and sudden physiological stress responses that occur outside of the therapy room, without warning or support.
For many women, these symptoms can intensify during pregnancy as bodily sensations, medical appointments, and anticipation of birth act as trauma triggers. Avoiding trauma treatment altogether does not mean avoiding exposure to distress, it often means distress occurs in an uncontained and unpredictable way.
From a clinical perspective, untreated trauma may pose greater risks than carefully delivered, stabilised therapeutic intervention.
A key consideration when asking “Is EMDR safe in pregnancy?” is not whether exposure occurs, but how and where exposure happens.
In EMDR therapy
This contrasts with traumatic symptoms such as flashbacks or panic responses, which can arise suddenly, intensely, and without support.
When delivered by an appropriately trained therapist, EMDR offers a controlled, collaborative way to reduce trauma symptoms, rather than leaving individuals to manage distress alone.
Despite the growing body of supportive evidence, it is important to acknowledge that research into EMDR therapy during pregnancy remains limited. Historically, pregnant women have often been excluded from clinical research, leading to smaller sample sizes and fewer long-term studies.
Many existing studies focus on specific presentations, such as fear of childbirth, and further research is needed to explore a broader range of trauma experiences and pregnancy contexts. Ongoing research will continue to refine best practice and strengthen clinical guidance.
Acknowledging these limitations does not undermine the evidence, it places it in context and reinforces the importance of individualised clinical decision-making.
While research supports the safety of EMDR during pregnancy, it is not a one-size-fits-all approach. A thorough assessment is essential to consider:
A skilled therapist will always work collaboratively to decide whether EMDR, or an alternative trauma-informed approach, is most appropriate, and to ensure therapy proceeds at a pace that feels safe and supportive.
Q: Can EMDR therapy harm my baby?
A: Current research suggests that EMDR therapy does not increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes when delivered by a trained, trauma-informed clinician. Studies show it is safe for both parent and baby.
Q: Is EMDR suitable for all pregnant women?
A: EMDR is not one-size-fits-all. Your therapist will assess your trauma history, current emotional state, stage of pregnancy, and any medical considerations to ensure the approach is safe and appropriate for you.
Q: What if I experience flashbacks or anxiety before therapy?
A: Untreated trauma symptoms can occur spontaneously and unpredictably. EMDR therapy offers a controlled, client-led way to process trauma safely and reduce symptoms over time.
Q: Are there alternatives to EMDR during pregnancy?
A: Yes. Trauma-informed therapies such as stabilisation techniques, CBT, or somatic approaches may also be appropriate depending on your needs. Your therapist will guide the best approach for your circumstances.
Q: Is there enough research to be completely confident inEMDR’s safety?
A: While studies are reassuring, research is still limited because pregnant women have historically been underrepresented in clinical trials. Ongoing research will continue to refine guidance. Individual assessment and a skilled therapist remain essential.
Arch, J. J., Dimidjian, S., & Chessick,C. (2012). Are exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapies safe during pregnancy? Archives ofWomen’s Mental Health, 15(6), 445–457. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-012-0308-9
Baas, M. A.M., van Pampus, M. G., Stramrood, C. A. I., Dijksman, L. M., Vanhommerig, J.W., & de Jongh, A. (2021). Treatment of pregnant women with fear ofchildbirth using EMDR therapy: Results of a multi-center randomized controlled trial. Frontiers inPsychiatry, 12, 798249. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.798249
Baas, M. A.M., Stramrood, C. A. I., Dijksman, L. M., Vanhommerig, J. W., de Jongh, A.,& van Pampus, M. G. (2023). How safe is the treatment of pregnant womenwith fear of childbirth using eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy? Obstetric outcomes of a multi-center randomized controlled trial. ActaObstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14628
Baas, M. A.M., van Pampus, M. G., Braam, L., Stramrood, C. A. I., & de Jongh, A.(2020). The effects of PTSD treatment during pregnancy: Systematic review andcase study. EuropeanJournal of Psychotraumatology, 11(1), 1762310. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1762310
Shapiro, F.(2018). EMDR: Basicprinciples, protocols, and procedures (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
Zolghadr,N., Khoshnazar, A., MoradiBaglooei, M., & Alimoradi, Z. (2019). The effectof EMDR on childbirth anxiety of women with previous stillbirth. Journal ofEMDR Practice and Research, 13(1), 10–19. https://doi.org/10.1891/1933-3196.13.1.10
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