When trauma comes to mind, people generally think of PTSD…war, combat, accidents, or a violent incident. What may not come to mind is childbirth. Despite that fact, the birthing process can be very traumatic for some women (or their partners). What is known as birth trauma can result from a physical, psychological, and/or emotional experience before, during, or after giving birth. Once this happens, just like any other traumatic event, it can be difficult to process and live life without fear, flashbacks, and hypervigilance.
Types of Birth Trauma
Before understanding the effects of birth trauma, it can be helpful to understand what constitutes a birth trauma experience.
Physical emergencies surrounding birth can include:
Induction
Unexpected C-section
Placental abruption (when the placenta separates from the uterus)
Complications such as eclampsia or hemorrhaging
Requiring emergency medical care
Risky scenarios for the baby that can result in trauma include:
Preterm labor
Unexpected medical conditions
Injury to the baby during birth
NICU stay
Stillbirth or infant death
While the above may not directly involve the partner, witnessing these experiences can be a trauma in its own right. Suppose the baby and birthing parent are in distress. In that case, the partner may have to make difficult medical decisions or divide time between different units at the hospital or different buildings.
The Impact
Due to disparities of care and inaccurate diagnoses on the mental health end, estimates of the prevalence of birth trauma are typically skewed. Studies show that around three to six percent of births result in trauma. The sad truth is that many more people go undiagnosed and untreated.
Experiencing any of the above instances can impact your mental well-being, your ability to connect to your baby, your ability to connect with your partner, and even your ability to return to your normal self.
In some instances, the birthing experience may have triggered past trauma memories that have been repressed. Things like sexual abuse or domestic abuse can be re-felt during childbirth and can cause a “new” trauma feeling.
The Long-Term Effect
Initially, after the traumatic event, it’s only logical to feel an array of emotions. But as time passes, those remaining negative emotions can make it difficult to resume normal day-to-day functioning. Not addressing it only leads to longer-lasting pain.
There might be feelings of hypervigilance surrounding your child, especially as they age if they were affected during the birthing process. You may find yourself worrying about their every move and need, thus making it a cumbersome or unhealthy relationship. Parents always worry about their children, but this can amplify that to a much larger degree.
Having chronic panic and anxiety, or even depression, can impact your connection with your child/partner/family as well. You start building your rapport with your child before they even enter the world. Struggling with negative feelings or emotions once they are born and moving forward will interfere with that dynamic. That can become a vicious cycle then when your lack of a healthy relationship feeds into your negative state.
If you were the affected person, this blocked feeling could prohibit you from moving on emotionally from the trauma. Over time, you become more and more emotionally unavailable. In a situation where a past event triggered you, it can create lasting flashbacks to a time that was harmful to you and your mental health. This can also impact your ability to create a bond with your child and/or your family as a new whole.
The birth of a child should be a joyous time. If complications ensue that are causing you to struggle, know that you aren’t alone. We are here to help you find joy and connection again. Contact us for a free consultation today.
Learn more about our PTSD, Trauma and EMDR therapy. Serving Boulder, Longmont, Denver.
