Birth Trauma - Finding Healing
Trauma is an emotional reaction to an experience in which an individual felt that their life (or the life of someone they care about), was imminently at risk. Trauma is defined by the individual, what may lead to feelings of trauma in one, may not even register with another. Birth trauma occurs during or after childbirth, where the birthing person has perceived that their life or baby’s life was threatened. It can also be caused in situations where mama felt an extreme sense of powerlessness, lack of control or autonomy, isolation, fear or anxiety. Birth trauma can result from situations where the birthing person felt unsupported in their birth or as if things “happened to them” without their consent or understanding.
Birth trauma increases the risk of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including PTSD which is an anxiety disorder that develops following a traumatic event and can include intrusive thoughts about the incident, recurrent distress/anxiety, flashbacks and avoidance of similar situations. In new parents who are struggling with PTSD this can result in avoidance of care or other reminders of their birth, in some cases even physical or emotional avoidance of baby.
Risk Factors for Birth Trauma Include
Your birth experience not going the way you had hope or expected
Having a difficult or prolonged labour or experiencing medical complications
Needing interventions (forceps, vacuum)
Requiring an emergency c-section
Baby requiring some kind of medical intervention after birth
Baby requiring NICU stay
Stillbirth or neonatal loss
Previous birth trauma
History of other forms of trauma such as sexual violence, domestic abuse or childhood abuse
Isolation from support systems during birth
Background history of mood or anxiety disorder
Is Birth Trauma Preventable?
Birth does not always go according to our plans. It is not always possible to avoid birth trauma as sometimes things just happen that are beyond the birthing persons control requiring intervention. There are ways you can reduce your risk of birth trauma include:
Preparing for childbirth in a way that gently educates you about all possible birth outcomes, avoiding the topic of c-section or epidurals because it is not part of your birth plan, may leave you feeling more traumatized if intervention is required in labour
Have realistic expectations, have birth wishes but be careful about getting too rigid with your birth plan, sometimes things are beyond our control and we need to be flexible
Talk to your care provider, make sure they know your fears and answer any questions leading up to your delivery
Can Birth Trauma Be Treated?
If you’re experiencing feelings of trauma after your birth, it is important to reach out as early as possible. One of the most therapeutic things you can do for yourself is to seek debriefing about what actually happened during your birth. Sometimes, things change quickly over the course of labour and birth requiring rapid decision making by your team. This may leave you with unanswered questions, so be sure to seek clarification about what happened. Basic self care such as adequate rest, gentle exercise and emotional support from friends and family are also beneficial.
The Power of The Birth Story
One of the most powerful tools to promote healing is to write, draw or otherwise create your birth story. This allows for emotional processing of your unique birth experience and can help to shine light on where exactly you are feeling most traumatised in your experience. You don’t have to share this story with anyone, but sometimes sharing it with a close loved one can be therapeutic too.
Get Help
If, after experiencing trauma you have ongoing feelings of distress, anxiety, low mood or poor sleep due to nightmares – please reach out for help.