Birth Trauma

“All that matters is a healthy baby.”

We hear that statement all too often and too many of us believe it’s true. I don’t agree. Yes, a healthy baby matters, but it is not all. A healthy mum matters too!


Unfortunately, 1 in 3 women in Australia has experienced birth trauma.

Birth trauma can be psychological and physical. And even the number is so high and seems to be quite common for women to experience their birth traumatically, it is not normal.

Your birth experience matters!

What is psychological birth trauma?

The trauma can result from not only what happens during birth, but also how you feel as a result of your experience. Birth trauma is subjective. Maybe your doctor, midwife or support person said everything went fine and normal but that doesn’t mean it was fine for you. You don’t need permission from the medical staff to define your birth experience as traumatic. No one else gets to decide how you experienced your birth, only you. This means that if your birth felt traumatic for you, it was.

You may have felt your birth was traumatic because:

  • You felt not being listened to or respected.

  • Your birth didn’t go the way expected or hoped for.

  • You felt powerless and out of control.

  • You feared for your or your baby’s safety.

  • You didn’t receive the support that you needed.

  • You were separated from your baby after birth.

What you might experience after a traumatic birth:

  • Fear and anxiety

  • Difficulty sleeping or nightmares

  • Feeling guilty

  • Panic attacks

  • Avoiding reminders of the birth

  • Trying to push feelings away

  • Poor self-image

  • Felling unemotional

  • Postnatal depression and/or anxiety

What you can do if you have experienced birth trauma:

  • Acknowledge your feelings and experience and talk to a trusted person.

  • Ask for practical help from family, friends or a postpartum doula so you can rest and process.

  • Practice daily self-care such as exercise, gratitude, massage and meditation.

  • Talk to a medical professional like your GP or a specialised birth trauma consultant.

The fact that way too many women experience their birth as traumatic doens’t mean it’s normal. Birth shouldn’t be traumatic and if you have experienced the birth of your baby that way, I would encourage you to talk to a trusted person. Having experienced a traumatic birth doesn’t automatically mean, you’ll end up with depression or anxiety but it can contribute to it and can have effects on the pregnancy and birth of your next baby.

You can find support and more resources at the Australasian Birth Trauma Association.

What is physical birth trauma?

“Current international research observes that more women than previously realized, suffer silently from severe pelvic floor damage, perineal injuries and/or PTSD symptoms after vaginal birth that are embarrassing and difficult to explain or understand and result in barriers to health care with reduced quality of life, marital disharmony and decreased infant bonding.”
Dr Elizabeth Skinner

Physical birth trauma is a direct result of the birthing process such as:

  • Tears

  • Episiotomy

  • Pelvic floor muscle injury

  • Vaginal assisted birth (forceps or vacuum)

  • C-section

  • Fistula

Symptoms could include:

  • Continuing pain around the birth injury

  • Urinary or faecal incontinence

  • Difficulty opening and emptying bowels

  • Pain or difficulty having sex

  • Constant lower back pain

  • Awareness of a bulge or lump at the vaginal opening

  • A heavy feeling in the pelvis or a sense that something is ‘falling out’

  • Vaginal or pelvic floor muscle laxity

  • Sweating, shaking, headaches, dizziness, gastro-intestinal upsets and chest pains not connected with medical conditions.

If you suffer from birth injuries, then I want to encourage you to reach out. You can talk to your GP or you can find support from Dr Elizabeth Skinner at Birth Trauma Consultancy.

Sources:

Australasian Birth Trauma Association


Birth Trauma Consultancy

Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia

Damaris Lee

I am a Birth and Postpartum Doula who supports pregnant and new mums with education and practical support.

http://www.mumsoasis.com
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The Evidence on Continuous Support during Birth

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The Fear-Tension-Pain Cycle during Birth