Healing from Traumatic Childbirth
What is Childbirth Trauma?
When the birth of your child doesn’t happen according to plan, what's supposed to be the happiest day of your life can lead to disappointment or crisis, and in some cases even traumatic stress. Birth trauma results from experiencing some part of childbirth as scary, frightening, distressing or life threatening.
Post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth is caused by real or perceived trauma during delivery or postpartum, resulting in feeling that you are not in control of what's happening while also fearing for your life or your baby's life. Traumas that can lead to postpartum post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) include:
Unplanned C-section
Feeling powerless, out of control during childbirth
Not having your wishes respected
Lack of support and reassurance during/after delivery
Poor communication during/after delivery
Other emergency interventions( use of forceps/extractor)
Your baby had to go to the NICU
Prolapsed cord
Previous traumas, such as rape or sexual abuse, traumatic losses, previous medical trauma
Severe physical complication or injury related to pregnancy or childbirth(for example, 3rd or 4th degree tears, pre-eclampsia/emclampsia, hyperemisis, postpartum hemorrhage)
According to Postpartum Support International, about 9% of women experience postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth. Women with a previous trauma, including childhood abuse, rape or sexual abuse, are at a higher risk for experiencing postpartum PTSD.
6 signs that childbirth was traumatic for you
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of traumatic stress or PTSD can be important in getting the help you need.
1 You believed you or your baby were in danger or would die.
2 You can’t remember important details or have blocks of memory that you can’t recall.
3 You felt stripped of your dignity, unsupported, disrespected or violated.
4 You had an “out of body experience", things didn’t seem real, you felt detached from your body or what was happening around you.
5 You felt helpless, terrified, horrified, flooded by fear and anxiety, a lack of control.
6 There was poor communication, things weren’t explained to you, or you had to make critical decisions quickly.
Most importantly, if you feel your experience was traumatic, then it was.
Common Symptoms of PTSD Following Childbirth:
Intrusive re-experiencing/replaying of a past traumatic event(of childbirth, or previous traumas)
Flashbacks or nightmares(replaying the birth in your dreams)
Avoidance of reminders connected to the event, including thoughts, feelings/emotions, people, places and details (for example hospitals, doctors, any reminders of childbirth including babies and other new moms, hearing other women's birth stories)
Difficulty bonding with your baby
Feeling on edge, unable to relax
Anxiety/panic attacks
Feeling detached, “things don't seem real”
Easily startled
Hypervigilant
Sleep disturbance
Irritable or angry mood
Excessive worry about the baby/checking on the baby
Emotionally Traumatic Aspects of Childbirth
For many women, the most traumatic aspects of childbirth are caused by something other than a medical emergency. The way that women are treated or spoken to during labor and delivery can cause extreme distress--lack of communication, not feeling supported or reassured, or feeling pressured into making critical, complex decisions quickly during labor or immediately following the birth. Measures that are seen as routine or medically necessary to a medical professional may feel overwhelming to a new mom, and just intensify the feeling that you're out of control and helpless to help yourself or your baby-even when you and your baby are now “fine”.
After a trauma, avoiding triggers may be impossible, but there are steps you can take to help yourself cope with the distress of trauma:
◾Identify potential triggers so that you can make a plan to support yourself through difficult moments or situations.
◾Knowledge is power. Learn about the signs and symptoms of traumatic stress and PTSD so that you understand what's happening to you and feel a bit more in control.
◾Grounding skills and self care can help you stay in your body, in the present moment. Read more about self care after a traumatic experience.
◾Know that perinatal trauma and PTSD are treatable. Getting support through trauma focused therapy can help you make a full recovery.
If childbirth was difficult for you, it's important not to dismiss or minimize this part of your experience, especially when your distress or fears continue longer than the first month after your baby is born. Postpartum depression, anxiety and PTSD are treatable. If you'd like to learn more about how I can help, please contact me for a free phone consultation.
