What are the Symptoms of Birth Trauma?

Birth trauma is more common than you might think. One in 3 women describe their birth as traumatic.

Many women feel intense shame. That guilt is part of the trauma. Feeling broken doesn't mean you are broken.

I want you to know that if read this article and it makes your heart race or brought tears, that's a sign your body is still carrying the experience.

That's okay. Healing is possible - most women who get the right support feel dramatically better within months.

Our Video from Rebecca Black

Join us as we explore the emotional, psychological, and physical effects of birth trauma on both parents and newborns.

Our expert psychologist will provide insights into how these experiences shape mental health, attachment, and family dynamics.

We'll discuss real-life stories, share coping strategies, and highlight the importance of support systems for those affected by birth trauma.

Whether you're a parent, expecting, or simply interested in psychology, this video aims to raise awareness and foster understanding around this crucial subject.

Common symptoms of psychological birth trauma

Here are the most common symptoms of psychological birth trauma

1. Re-experiencing- Flashbacks

1. Intrusive memories or images that pop into your head

2. Nightmares about the birth

3. Intense distress when reminded

2. Avoidance

1. Refusing to look at photos/videos of the baby's first days

2. Avoiding the hospital, OB, or any medical setting

3. Putting off future pregnancies or saying 'never again' with intense fear

3. Negative thoughts and mood - Persistent guilt or shame.

1. Blaming yourself even when it wasn't your fault

2. Feeling detached from your baby

3. Loss of interest in things you used to love

4. Feeling numb or emotionally flat

4. Hyperarousal - Being constantly on edge or easily startled

1. Irritability or angry outbursts

2. Trouble sleeping

3. Hypervigilance

4. Panic attacks

Additional Symptoms Specific to Birth Trauma

1. Intense rage toward medical staff, partner, or even yourself

2. Body memories - physical sensations

3. Feeling violated or assaulted by procedures (even medically necessary ones)

4. Crying every time you tell the birth story

5. Sexual difficulties or pain that started or worsened after birth (often linked to feeling retraumatised)

6. Tokophobia (extreme fear of future pregnancy/birth)

Birth trauma can mean two very different things.

Both are real, both are common, and both deserve attention.

1. Physical Birth Trauma (to the baby or to the mother's body)

1. Bruising or forceps marks 2. Caput succedaneum / cephalohematoma 3. Clavicle fracture 4. Subgaleal hemorrhage 5. Skull fracture or intracranial bleed

To the Mother's Body

1. 3rd or 4th degree tears

2. Severe labial or periurethral tears

3. Pubic symphysis separation or coccyx fracture

4. Uterine rupture (very rare in unscarred uterus)

5. Severe postpartum hemorrhage requiring transfusion

6. Pelvic organ prolapse or fistulas (rare in high-resource settings)

How Common is Birth Trauma

1. 30-45% of women describe their birth as traumatic in some way

2. 4-9% of women meet full criteria for postpartum PTSD

3. 15-20% have partial PTSD symptoms (flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety)

Common Triggers

1. Feeling powerless or ignored

2. Emergency cesarean after long labor

3. Severe pain that was dismissed

4. Hemorrhage or fear of dying

5. Baby taken to NICU unexpectedly

6. Perceived rude or rough treatment by staff

7. Previous sexual assault (birth can re-trigger)

Symptoms

1. Intrusive memories or flashbacks of the birth

2. Nightmares

3. Avoiding anything that reminds you of the birth

4. Hypervigilance with the baby

5. Severe guilt

6. Panic attacks when thinking about future pregnancies

This refers to actual injuries that happen during labor and delivery.

It is Real

Birth trauma can lead to significant mental health challenges, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression for mothers and their partners.

This is a topic that's often overlooked, but it's essential to acknowledge the profound impact it can have on families.

Traumatic Birth

The experience of a traumatic birth can be a life-altering event, leaving a lasting impression on a person's emotional well-being.

It's crucial to recognize that birth trauma is not just about the physical aspects of childbirth, but also the emotional and psychological toll it can take.

Furthermore, the effects of birth trauma can be far-reaching, affecting not only the individual who experienced it but also their loved ones and their relationships.

Birth Trauma

There are different types of birth trauma, but in every case of birth trauma, at some point in the lead up to the birth, during the birthing process or during post birth care, the woman has felt traumatized.

We often think about birth trauma as something that has gone wrong in labor or birth, but it comes down to how a woman feels about her experience in her labor and birth.

She may have felt afraid or scared or fearful for her safety of her baby's safety.

She may have felt unheard or unsupported.

No matter what has caused the trauma, it's not okay that she has had to experience this.

Perinatal Psychologist Rebecca Black

In our interview with Perinatal Psychologist Rebecca Black, we learn so much about birth trauma and how to be more sensitive and supportive to women in their pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum experience.

Let's allow all women to feel heard, supported, nurtured, and empowered through their birth experience and into motherhood.

This is a topic that needs to be shared, forward this on to whoever you think may need to hear this.

What May Help You

For Physical Trauma

1. Early pelvic-floor physiotherapy

2. Pain management and mental-health support

3. Honest discussion with your provider about what happened

For Psychological Trauma

1. Talk about it with a partner, doula, or therapist

2. EMDR therapy is extremely effective for birth-related PTSD

3. Support groups

4. Debriefing with the hospital

5. Medication (usually short-term) if needed