Birth Trauma & Healing
What is Birth trauma?
Birth trauma is any distressing or upsetting feeling that a birthing person experiences during or after childbirth. Birth trauma can be physical or emotional and it can be a result of things that happened during your child’s birth or even what you experienced after the birth. Birth trauma affects approximately 1 in 3 birthing people, and is very common among young parents. For some people, the birthing process itself can be physically or emotionally traumatic while for others specific events may trigger trauma. Emotional birth trauma may include feelings of fear, helplessness, guilt, numbness, anxiety or panic attacks, shock, or feeling like you were unheard during and after labor/delivery. Physical birth trauma may occur when the birthing person or their baby experiences a physical injury during or after childbirth.
Causes of Birth Trauma
- Birth plan is not going to plan
- Difficult labor including stalled progression, complications, among others
- Unplanned interventions such as epidural, pitocin or induction, use of forceps or vacuum, or emergency c-section, induction
- Birth injury to you including tears, episiotomy, hemorrhoids, muscle or nerve damage, or even loss of blood or uterus
- Birth injury to your baby including bruises, swelling, fractures or shoulder dislocation, or brain injury
- Baby needing medical attention after birth. This could be due to meconium, low birth weight, breathing concerns, jaundice, etc.
- Stillbirth or death
- Not feeling heard or supported during or after birth
- And general anxiety or past trauma
Tips for preventing birth trauma
- Have a flexible plan. It is great to have a birth plan, but realizing that things don’t always go to plan, so being flexible with your plan can help!
- Prepare for birth by communicating with your doctor, doula, or midwife, taking classes, and asking all of your questions!
- Build your team! Who is going to support you, who will advocate for you, who will be present?
- Plan for the postpartum period! This may include hiring a postpartum doula, setting up meals, and knowing who will support you once you come home.
- Check in with your mental health provider, if you have one. Having support before and after birth can help even if you don’t experience birth trauma.
Let’s talk about healing!
If you feel like you have experienced birth trauma or if you are worried about it, talk to your doctor, nurse, doula or midwife. They are trained to know the symptoms and they will have resources for you! Therapy is a great outlet for talking through the trauma and getting tools to help you overcome any negative effects of birth trauma. Another helpful aspect of healing is your team. Connect with your support network (partner, family, friends) and share how you are feeling. Additionally, practice self-care! This can include yoga, mindfulness, journaling, or anything else that helps you to feel calm and cared for. Finally, know that you are not alone! There are support groups and other resources available to help you connect with other people who have experienced birth trauma. If you haven’t already, create an account on YUP! and connect with other young parents on our community forums.
Check out self-care & postpartum depression for more information
Resources
- U.S. Health and Human Services Department’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal Mental Health Hotline call or text at 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS (1-833-943-5746)
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- Birth Trauma Association [email protected]
- Prevention and Treatment of Traumatic Childbirth (PATTCh)
