Recovering from a Birth Trauma and/or Postnatal PTSD
How to heal after a traumatic birth experience and recover from birth-associated PTSD
A traumatic birth experience, no matter what the story, can have long-lasting impact on mother, child, baby, partner, and the whole family if ignored or untreated. But recovery is possible with support and direction from mental health professionals. There are various reasons women do not seek treatment for birth trauma experiences which may develop into post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Some mothers may feel that they should “just get over” their experience or the experience “wasn’t as bad” as someone else’s so they shouldn’t be that affected. But not seeking help can cause deleterious relationships between mother and baby, mother and partner, mother and her feelings towards medical professionals, and may other consequences such as depression and family dysfunction.
With support and treatment mothers can heal and recover from their birth trauma. Birth trauma or postnatal PTSD can be diagnosed by a medical professional or therapists when the mother may be experiencing anger, re-living the experience through flashbacks or nightmares, distancing from their baby, avoidance of medical professionals, or avoidance of a physical relationship with their partner. PTSD symptoms may appear to mimic symptoms of postpartum depression, but postnatal PTSD, or birth trauma, requires different treatment considerations.
Whereas antidepressants may be used to help with symptoms of postpartum depression, medications are not usually prescribed for PTSD unless symptoms are severe or treatment options are limited. Anti-anxiety medication can be prescribed to help with anxiety and symptoms associated thereof.
If you’re experiencing birth trauma or PTSD, treatments and practices that can aid with recovery from birth trauma and/or postnatal PTSD will include one or more of the following:
- Do not blame yourself. Many parents struggle with guilt over feeling they should have done something different. If only they’d planned better or researched more, the situation could have been avoided. It is important to internalize that you are not at fault. You did the best you could for yourself and your baby.
- Get support from family and friends. Keep talking about your feelings and the experience itself to the greatest extent you are comfortable. Processing the experience with those you trust can help recovery. If you are angry, be angry, if you are sad, be sad. Articulate your feelings and reasons for them. Involve your partner as much as possible. It is probable they too experienced trauma.
- Don’t compare yourself. Everyone is an individual. How one experiences a sequence of events is different for others. Focus on your feelings and hashing them out with people you trust.
- Use relaxation techniques for anxiety. Journaling, meditating, mindfulness, and breathing awareness can be powerful tools to curb symptoms of anxiety.
- Seek psychological support from a professional. Specific types of talk therapy are used to help one recover from trauma. Trauma-focused cognitive-behavior therapy techniques and/or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDP) can be employed by a therapist to help you through your trauma. In addition, Somatic Experiencing ™ is another therapy technique often used with trauma patients.
- Find a support group. Check with your health or psychology professional or go here to find support groups.
- Take care of yourself. Get enough sleep, good nutrition, and time for meditation, exercise, and/or journaling. Know your triggers and get support if you know a certain experience, day, or activity may be especially challenging.
- Consider a debriefing service. Most hospitals have a birth debriefing service. Contact your doctor or hospital for services. This allows you to talk with your midwife, attending physician, and/or nursing staff.
- Make a formal complaint. In instances where a patient feels that staff has not treated them with respect, dignity, or appropriate care, they may make a complaint to the hospital. Creating a filing a formal complaint letter with the medical facility may be appropriate for your case.
If you are struggling with your emotions following a traumatic birth and aren’t sure whether you are experiencing PTSD or postpartum depression, read my prior blog post on distinguishing these diagnoses. Learn more about birth trauma or postnatal PTSD with this blog post.
With support, counseling, and/or therapy overcoming birth trauma is possible. There are many support avenues available, and we want to be able to help in any way you need.
If you have suicidal thoughts or are in immediate risk
If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, get help right away through one or more of these resources:
- Reach out to a close friend or loved one.
- Contact a minister, a spiritual leader, or someone in your faith community.
- Call a suicide hotline number — in the United States, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) to reach a trained counselor.
- Make an appointment with your doctor or a mental health professional.
- Call 911
Danielle Older, MSW, LISW-S, CCTP
Danielle is one of our maternal mental health therapists and the founder of River Root Counseling. Her therapeutic style is individual, evidence-based, and unique to best serve each individual client. Danielle will work with you, at your pace, cheering you on and empowering you as you accomplish your therapeutic goals. Danielle values the therapeutic relationship and works to make each session beneficial and helpful for her clients. Danielle is a mother herself and understands the roller coaster that parenting, and motherhood, can sometimes feel like.
Call River Root at 330-595-4563
Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervision Designation (Ohio) – I.2002068-SUPV
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
Bachelor’s of Social Work – University of Akron
Master’s in Social Work – Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Schedule a consultation here.
Other links for Birth Trauma and postnatal PTSD:
https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/after-birth/recovering-difficult-birth