Would it surprise you to hear that emotional trauma after giving birth is common? Approximately 1/3 of women report having a traumatic experience during the birth process and approximately 9% of birthing women develop PTSD following birth. In addition, trauma from giving birth also affects the development and severity of postpartum depression and other postpartum mood disorders.

I am a former midwife as well as a trauma-focused counselor. I can say with certainty that birth trauma is often overlooked. Women are told things like “Be grateful that you have a healthy baby.” A traumatic birth experience can be isolating, and women often feel invalidated when they try to discuss it. There is also a belief that trauma is a normal part of birth, which furthers the feelings of isolation when a new mom has a difficult time processing their traumatic experience.

So, what makes a birth experience traumatic? If you feel that your birth experience was traumatic, it was. We all have different experiences with life situations and what one person finds traumatic, another does not. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t a trauma. Bottom line: If it felt traumatic, it was traumatic.

There are several things that are more likely to lead a woman to feel her experience was traumatic. A very long or very short labor, being out of control or feelings of a loss of dignity or modesty can all cause feelings of trauma. Having impersonal or indifferent medical care or having medical care that doesn’t respect your autonomy and decision making can be traumatic as well. Not being listened to or not having things adequately explained to you can also negatively affect your feelings about your birth. Having inadequate emotional support during the labor and birth process can be traumatic as well. Having medical complications, having your baby in the NICU, or having unsupportive postpartum care can also be traumatic. Having an unexpected outcome or having a stillbirth can obviously also be traumatic.

Birth can also be traumatic with it presses on other types of traumas. A common correlation in experiencing birth traumatically can be having a history of sexual assault or childhood sexual abuse. Birth often entails situations where you don’t feel like you can maintain modesty. It involves the same parts as sexual assault. Often the words medical staff uses or the medical process itself can be a trigger for sexual assault survivors. If you know this before birth, it is important to share your history with your care-providers and create a plan to reduce the possibility of triggering events.

It is important to point out that mothers are not the only ones who can experience birth trauma. Fathers or other support people can experience trauma during the birth process as well. As much as new mothers’ experiences with trauma in the birth room are often overlooked, fathers and other support people receive practically no recognition for the difficulty they often experience by watching a traumatic situation. It seems very reasonable that watching someone you love experience trauma or witnessing a scary medical complication can cause feelings of trauma.

Because birth trauma is so isolating, it is important to talk about it with someone who will be supportive of how you view your experience. Talking to a counselor is a wonderful step. It is important to note that even counselors sometimes don’t know to ask about birth experiences so don’t be afraid to speak up. Most counselors have a working knowledge of trauma so they will recognize the signs and symptoms once you explain the situation. You might also seek out friends or family members who you know have had similar experiences. Finding someone to validate your experience and feelings is an important step towards healing.

What can be done to reduce the risk of birth trauma? Ensuring you are educated about the birth process and have good emotional support throughout your labor and birth is a good start. Consider hiring a birth doula, a professional who can help you emotionally and physically through the birth as well as helping your partner support you effectively. Having communication with your medical staff and practicing speaking your needs ahead of time can also be very helpful. If you know that modesty is important to you, let the staff know that you need to remain as modest as possible. You can’t always prevent medical complications or other factors that can lead to a higher rate of trauma but feeling as in control as possible will help you navigate through difficult situations.

If you have experienced a birth trauma, there are counselors at Charmed who specialize in these situations and are here to help. Call us today to get scheduled!

By Jessica Weed, MS, LMHC-A