Recovering From a Traumatic Birth
Birth is an enormous and transformative life event, and honoring that your birthing experience may take time to process is valid. When things happen in birth are sudden, unexpecting or feel out of control, it can cause emotional distress or trauma. Birth is thought of a physical event, and in the postpartum time period, emotional distress from birth can be overlooked or minimized.
Some causes of emotional trauma during and after child birth are:
Birth or parts of the birth are not going to plan
Baby needing a NICU stay
Being examined without consent
Unplanned cesarean
Not feeling safe or listened to during or after birth
Symptoms of Emotional Trauma
anger
anxiety
overwhelming feelings
negative feelings about yourself or your ability to care for your child
not eating
not able to sleep
suicidal thoughts
avoidance of people, places, or situations associated with the trauma
difficulty sleeping
hyper-vigilance
increasing anxiety or panic attacks
re-experiencing the trauma (including nightmares and flashbacks)
worsening depression.
What is Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder is a form of PTSD caused by physical or emotional trauma during childbirth. It is not permanent and can be treated with professional help. It is not your fault.
When to Reach Out to My Provider?
If you find your symptoms lasting longer than a few days, or worsening, you should contact your provider. There is no shame in suffering from PPTSD or birth trauma. Birth is a major event in life, and every birth has the capacity to be traumatic in some way - even when all goes according to plan.
Local and Online Resources:
Parental Stress 24-hour hotline: 1-800-632-8188
Postpartum Support International (PSI): 1-800-944-4773 (call or text); Spanish option text 971-420-0294
Local providers trained in supporting perinatal mood & anxiety disorders: http://psidirectory.com/
Boston-based resources:
Cassie McCarthy LICSW, https://cassiemccarthy.com
Mandi Robinson, LICSW, Mandi@wellnessforwomencounseling.com
MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health, Perinatal and Reproductive Psychiatry Program, https://womensmentalhealth.org/
The Leggett Group (Roslindale & Framingham)
Thrive Boston (Boston)
Strong Roots Counseling (Newton)
Sister Song Mama Talk- a safe space created for BIPOC, Queer, Trans, Non-binary and Migrant Communities to share their stories, find support, gather information, and network with other birthing people
For more help navigating the seismic shift into parenthood, reach out to the Boston Area Doulas team.
www.bostonareadoulas.com
📞 (857) 600-1907
✉️ kathleen@bostonareadoulas.com
#bostonareadoulas
