*Trigger warning: This page discusses birth trauma and may be triggering for some people.”
Birth Trauma (see also Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) refers to any experience before, during, or after childbirth that impacts the nervous system’s ability to cope.
Birth trauma is not a choice.
Birth trauma is subjective. It can, and will, present in different ways in different people. It will be caused by various experiences.
It’s not defined by a health care provider, therapist, family, friends, social media, or an Internet page.
Birth trauma can be physical, emotional, or psychological.
It’s often about how you feel about your experience, rather than the experience itself.
Birth trauma can happen to anyone.
Causes
Birth trauma can be caused by anything that causes you distress or that you perceive as a threat. Examples include:
- Medical complications during pregnancy or birth
- Premature birth
- NICU stay
- Stillbirth
- Long, painful labour
- Unexpected change to birth plans
- Medical intervention during labour
- Previous pregnancy or infant loss
- Infertility
- Birth injury
- Lacking clear communication and/or informed consent from your provider
- Not feeling safe, respected, or heard
- Lacking support
- Having your concerns ignored
- Not being allowed to go in certain labour/pushing positions, walk, eat, or go to the bathroom
Symptoms
- Insomnia
- Nightmares and flashbacks
- Feelings of shame, guilt, and/or helplessness
- Reoccurring intrusive memories
- Dissociation
- Avoiding anything associated with the event
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Depression
- Difficulty bonding with your baby
- Hypervigilance
Birth Trauma May Look Like…
- Not wanting, or fearing, another pregnancy/birth/child because of a previous traumatic situation.
- Avoiding medical treatment
- Not wanting to be away from your baby due to extreme worry
- Experiencing panic attacks when reminded of the experience
- Determination to never feel those feelings (e.g., helpless, unheard)
- Misdirected, or disproportionate, anger
- Feeling consumed by the experience, but minimizing those feelings because it wasn’t that bad
Birth Trauma & The Brain
Generally, memories are filed away in the hippocampus. However, if an experience is traumatic, the mind enters “fight, flight, or freeze” mode and the part of the brain associated with fear (amygdala) turns on. This causes the memory to become stuck rather than filed away. The memory doesn’t feel like a memory, it feels like a threat. As a result, the experience can be easily triggered by anything that reminds the individual of the trauma (e.g., being in the hospital).
Treatment
- Trauma informed cognitive behavioural therapy
- Medication
- EMDR
- Trauma informed yoga
- Group therapy or support groups
- Somatic experiencing
- Mindfulness
DISCLAIMER: The content of Postpartum Support Yukon’s website, posts, and blogs does not constitute medical advice, nor is it an emergency service. If you have concerns about any health or medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment, you should consult with a licensed healthcare provider. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call, or go to, your health care provider, local emergency department, 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Postpartum Support Yukon is intended for informational purposes only.
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