Birth trauma happens when you go through a frightening, stressful, or distressing event during childbirth. This experience can lead to postnatal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a type of anxiety disorder.
Partners witnessing these traumatic events may also develop symptoms of PTSD.
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These are some of the common signs and symptoms of postnatal PTSD:
Re-living the trauma
You might experience vivid flashbacks as if the trauma is occurring at the moment, intrusive thoughts and images, nightmares, and intense distress when faced with real or symbolic reminders of the trauma.
Physical reactions
You may feel physical sensations such as pain, sweating, nausea, or trembling.
Increased alertness
This can develop as feeling on edge, panicking when reminded of the trauma, being easily upset or angry, experiencing an extreme state of alertness often referred to as ‘hypervigilance’, and having trouble sleeping even when you have the opportunity.
Behavioural changes
You might display irritable or aggressive behaviour, find it difficult to concentrate on simple or everyday tasks, feel jumpy or easily startled, and show other symptoms of anxiety.
Staying busy: You might feel the need to keep yourself occupied to avoid thinking about the trauma.
Avoiding triggers: You may steer clear of situations that remind you of the traumatic event.
Memory gaps: It can be difficult to recall details of the incident.
Withholding affection: You might find yourself unable to express affection.
Using substances: Alcohol or recreational drugs may be used to block out memories.
Emotional detachment: You could feel numb or detached from your emotions or even your body, a state often described as dissociation.
Distrust: You may feel like you can’t trust anyone.
Feeling unsafe: It might seem as though no place is safe.
Feeling misunderstood: You could feel like no one truly understands your experience.
Self-blame: There might be a tendency to blame yourself for what happened.
Intense emotions: Overwhelming feelings of anger, sadness, guilt, or shame are common.
Postnatal PTSD can arise from experiencing or witnessing traumatic events during or after childbirth. Examples of such events include:
Some individuals believe that the joy of having a new baby compensates for any traumatic experiences, or that the pleasure of parenthood will help them quickly forget the trauma. However, these traumatic experiences can negatively impact your bond with your baby, your relationships with others, and your self-esteem.
You might feel let down if the childbirth experience didn’t meet your expectations. You may also feel resentment towards the medical staff if you believe the delivery was poorly managed, or if you felt unsupported during the process.
Some parents describe feeling powerless or detached during childbirth, which can contribute to traumatic feelings. Additionally, these experiences may cause anxiety about future pregnancies, worrying that the next childbirth could be similarly traumatic.
If you are concerned about the impact of birth trauma or postnatal PTSD, you should talk with your GP or health visitor. Your doctor will discuss various treatment options with you, enabling you to make an informed decision about what’s best for you.
Talking Therapy
The primary treatments for PTSD are specialised forms of talking therapy, including:
Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This therapy is tailored for PTSD. A therapist will help you identify and articulate the emotions associated with your trauma and develop coping mechanisms. They will also assist you in finding the most effective ways to express your feelings about the trauma.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR): In this therapy, a therapist directs you to perform rhythmic eye movements while you recall the traumatic event. These eye movements are intended to activate both sides of your brain (bilateral stimulation), with the goal of helping you process the traumatic events so you can remember them without experiencing intense PTSD symptoms.
Medication is typically not the first-line treatment for PTSD itself. However, there are several related reasons why your doctor might prescribe you medication:
Talk with a trained professional about your thoughts and feelings with out free counselling and private counselling service for people over the age of 18.
