Birth Trauma Therapy: How It Can Help You

Birth trauma may be a term you have heard, but it’s not something openly discussed. Learning about birth trauma therapy may help to support yourself or any new mom or dad better.

Finding the right therapist to help yourself or a friend through birth trauma can make all the difference. Let’s dive in to learn about what birth trauma is and how therapy can help!

What to Know About Trauma in General: 

When most people think about the word trauma, they think of catastrophe. As you read through this blog, try to remember that for something to be identified as “traumatic” it doesn’t have to be compared to anything else. Trauma is subjective and what makes the event traumatic is individualized.

Two people might experience the same event, but their reactions to the event could be very different. The first person walks away from the event with minor levels of stress and carries on with their day. The second person may struggle with functioning and feel prolonged anxiety.

What Even is Birth Trauma? 

Birth trauma occurs when the birthing person experiences emotionally or physically distressing parts of the birthing process. The range of birth trauma can be anywhere from mild to severe.

Please note that trauma can include witnessing these distressing events as well. This means birthing partners can also experience birth trauma.

Experiences That Can Lead to Birth Trauma:  

Medical complications for you or the baby

This includes emergencies of all types that occur during labor or immediately postpartum. Please remember, it doesn’t matter if these complications lasted for 1 minute or for hours at a time. It can be traumatic regardless.  

Trauma can also be caused by perceived harm. Even if it felt as though you or your baby’s life was threatened, this can also lead to a traumatic experience.

Interventions

Induction, C-Section, forceps, vacuum extraction, epidurals, an episiotomy, continuous fetal monitoring, etc.

Research shows that higher levels of interventions during birth are linked to increased rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Birth trauma is especially linked when the birthing person feels uninformed or coerced into interventions.  

Support

This includes lack of desired support from partners or family as well as medical staff.

 Expectations

Maybe the picture you had in your head for how birth would go does not match the experience you had. The shattering of expectations can be blindsiding and come with devastation.

History of trauma

If you have experienced sexual trauma earlier in your life, this places you at higher risk to experience birth trauma. Birth may trigger feelings of helplessness and loss of control, that could mimic trauma earlier in life.

 Physical experience in labor 

The level of pain, possible degree of tearing, and duration of labor all play a role in how you perceive your birthing experience.

Remember, these examples do not cover all avenues for birth trauma and each person’s experience is different!

Signs of Birth Trauma

Avoiding Reminders: If there is a person, place, or thing that reminds you of your birth and you find yourself avoiding interactions with it or avoiding thoughts about it, this is important to note.

If you notice a physiological or emotional reaction when you are reminded of this experience, this can also be a warning sign of trauma.

Feeling on edge

Your muscles may be tense and your body feels like it’s anticipating something. Some people connect this feeling with restlessness and notice feeling hyperaware of their surroundings and their body.

Challenges bonding with your baby

You envisioned your baby being here hundreds of times but you always pictured you would feel that connection, the one that makes you feel you have known them for a lifetime. You find this baby feels like a stranger to you and then you feel such guilt for feeling this way.

Feeling detached or numb

You have heard that postpartum can come with a rollercoaster of emotions but, you feel nothing- just blank. It might feel like you are living with fog all around you or that you are distant from everything going on around you.

Flashbacks

Are there times when you feel you are reliving the experience of your birth? Out of nowhere, you might feel pulled back in time experiencing all the emotions, sights, sounds, and physical sensations again. This can leave people feeling helpless and out of control. 

Physical signs of stress

The stress from this traumatic event may be appearing in your body. Examples could be: headaches, muscle tension, GI issues, nausea, fatigue, rapid heart rate, changes in breathing, rashes or overall changes in skin, and increased or decreased appetite. 

Nightmares

Sleep is hard to come by postpartum. When you are able to sleep, are you reliving aspects of your birth in nightmares? This can be torturous making it feel like you can’t escape these memories, even while you sleep.

Types of Therapy or Interventions Used with Birth Trauma 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT believes the way we think influences the way we feel and behave. Using a CBT model, we will try to reframe thoughts to reduce the intensity of the emotion and impact of the behavior.

 Narrative Therapy

This type of therapy allows us to take a look at your birth story. What does it sound like? We can analyze how the story being told may contribute to your emotional distress. We obviously can’t change the events themselves but we can change the way we look at the experience.

Somatic Therapy

This approach utilizes breath work, movement, and mindfulness in order to connect the mind and the body.  

Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Utilizing mindfulness can help someone ground themselves in the present moment. This can be especially helpful when the flashbacks or memories of birth trauma pull us back in time.

How Can Birth Trauma Therapy Help?

Working with a therapist who has specific training and knowledge related to birth trauma can make all the difference. Here are just a few benefits:

Emotional processing

Therapy offers a safe space to explore and verbalize your emotions. Not everyone understands birth trauma and having a space with someone who gets it and is only there for you, can be so helpful.   

Coping skills

Together we will talk about skills to fit your specific needs. Each person is different and their experience with birth trauma is unique, therapy can’t be a cut-and-paste practice.

Support network

Working with someone familiar with birth trauma can help point you in the direction of adjunctive resources. These include things like support groups, medication prescribers with a perinatal focus, books, podcasts, and more.

Ready To Start Therapy for Birth Trauma?

We know starting counseling can be scary. If you have any questions about counseling, please utilize a free 15-minute consultation to ease the anxiety!

Feel free to reach out here to get scheduled and let’s work toward change together!