The transition to parenthood can be an exciting and joyful experience, but up to 45% of mothers report experiencing birth trauma, impacting perinatal mental health and often resulting in difficulty during the postpartum period. Birth trauma is subjective and those who experience it define it for themselves, often beyond the clinical diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder. Let’s discuss how to recognize birth trauma, examine possible causes, and identify mental health supports to treat symptoms.
Birth trauma sufferers may experience psychological and emotional distress because of experiences during conception, labour, birth, or postpartum. Birth trauma can influence the well-being of the mother or birthing person, father, or newborn. Childbirth is a challenging and vulnerable time for all parents; however, birth trauma can result from those with experiences that bring up feelings of overwhelm, distress, powerlessness, or threats to life. Traumatic birth experiences often involve emotional or physical mistreatment of the birthing person, a perceived loss of control, use of medical interventions, complications with the pregnancy, birth, or postpartum phase, or unpredicted outcomes.
Causes of Birth TraumaÂ
Birth trauma is caused by a multitude of factors that impact the physical and emotional well-being of the mother, birthing person, or a partner. Common factors associated with birth trauma include a lack of communication from the medical team to the mother, birthing person, or partner, failure to seek proper informed consent for recommended medical procedures, resulting in feelings of powerlessness, unplanned or emergency cesarean sections, history of sexual assault, perinatal loss, and inadequate perinatal care. Most births that are perceived as traumatic by mothers specifically are seemingly viewed as routine by clinicians. As such, the determining factor in the presence and cause of birth trauma is the perception of the mother, birthing person, or partner who holds the experience.
Healing from Birth Trauma
Recovering from birth trauma is a deeply personal journey, but seeking support can be essential. Here are some ways to get started!
1. Individual counselling or affordable therapy: Attending therapy with a trauma-informed clinician trained in perinatal mental health offers a safe space to process emotions related to the perinatal experience while gaining insight and becoming equipped with tools to cope with related symptoms.
2. Peer support: Connecting with other mothers, birthing people, or partners who have experienced birth trauma, for example through Postpartum Support International can be very beneficial. These groups can be found via online therapy, within local organizations, or via private therapy practices.
3. Self-care: Engaging in activities that offer oneself nurturing can reduce stress and improve symptoms to help work through birth trauma. Easy to fit-in self-care activities might include mindfulness, exercise, meditation, or virtual therapy.
4. Education: Gaining education about birth trauma can be impactful on an individual’s healing process. Education can empower mothers, birthing people, and partners to process their experience while also preparing them for potentially entering this environment again if they are considering subsequent births.
5. Partner and family support: Open dialogue with trusted loved ones can help foster a safe and empathetic environment outside the therapy room. Couples counselling sessions are also a great option for processing birth trauma that impacted both partners and that is impacting the well-bring of the relationship. Couples counselling after birth trauma can help facilitate healing and strengthen the relationship during a difficult and transitional time.
Birth trauma can heavily impact mothers, birthing people, and partners but healing is possible. Rebound therapy can help! By drawing attention to your experience, seeking support through affordable therapy, and prioritizing self-care, you can begin to heal and reclaim your well-being. You are not alone; we are here to support you!
References
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Beck, C. T. (2004). Birth trauma: In the eye of the beholder. Nursing Research, 53(1), 28–35. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006199-200401000-00005
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Beck, C. T., Watson, S., & Gable, R. K. (2018). Traumatic childbirth and its aftermath: Is there anything positive? The Journal of Perinatal Education, 27(3), 175–184. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.27.3.175
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Ertan, D., Hingray, C., Burlacu, E., Sterlé, A., & El-Hage, W. (2021). Post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth. BMC Psychiatry, 21(1), 155. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03158-6
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Lothian, J. A. (2019). The continued mistreatment of women during pregnancy and childbirth. The Journal of Perinatal Education, 28(4), 183–185. https://doi.org/10.1891/1058-1243.28.4.183