If you feel your birth was traumatic, then it’s likely you will need some time to process and heal after the birth.

While some women can assimilate the birth experience into their lives with no trouble at all, even after a seemingly difficult or complicated birth, some women may experience the opposite. Even a relatively uncomplicated and healthy birth can trigger trauma.

If you have had a history of hospitalisation or medical procedures or have experienced physical violence, then you may feel extra vulnerable during labour and delivery and run the risk of feeling traumatised. Similarly, if you or your baby experienced complications during birth, this too can be traumatic.

What are the symptoms of a traumatic birth?

Flashbacks or nightmares.

Avoiding anything that reminds you of the birth experience.

Extreme reactivity and irritability.

Feeling isolated yet not wanting to see anyone.

Depression.

Trouble sleeping and concentrating.

Feeling easily startled and hyper-vigilant.

How do I recover from a traumatic birth experience?

If you are left shaken by your birth experience, here are some ways to help you deal with it.

Don’t judge your experience against anyone else’s. There is no such thing as a perfect birth. Holding yourself to impossible standards will just create more resistance and anxiety and worsen your emotional state. Don’t compare your birth experience with anyone else’s birth or your previous birth.
Reframe your birth story. Try to tell a different story of your birth that has a little more of a softer edge. For example, some women like to name their birth scars “battle scars” reminding them of how powerful, strong and resilient they are. And remember to keep sharing your reframed birth story as much as possible.
Heal and nourish your body. It’s super important that you take care of your post-labour body. Your body needs healing and that takes time and a lot of rest. If you are in physical pain then tell your healthcare advisor. Physical pain can exacerbate emotional pain and vice versa. There is also a physiological link to pain, meaning that the body responds to physical damage causing inflammation, which may be connected with the biology of depression. Other research shows that emotional stress slows down physical healing. If you’re feeling particularly emotional, then taking care of your physical health can be a great first step on the road to recovery.
If you have experienced trauma during birth, then let your caregivers know so they can arrange a session to go through what happened and why which is often very helpful.

How do I identify and cope with birth trauma?

Unii’s Giving Birth Journey shares how to work through birth trauma and heal.