When it comes to giving birth, there’s one prevailing narrative most people hear: “The day you meet your baby is the happiest day of your life.”
For many people, that may be true — but for many others, the experience of giving birth can be scary, painful, and even dehumanizing…and the effects of that can last long after that baby is born.
Birth trauma is real. It’s also far more common than you might expect, especially because it’s so rarely discussed.
Birth trauma, like any other trauma, can take time to show up. Identifying the issue may be the first step towards healing.
Emily Guarnotta, PsyD, a psychologist and founder of maternal mental health practice Phoenix Health, shares more details on what birth trauma is and how people can heal from it.
What is birth trauma?
“Birth trauma is the emotional experience of recovering from a difficult or scary birth. It is often caused by a birth where there are medical complications or risk of harm to the mother or baby. A birth may also be traumatic if a mother feels helpless or like her voice isn’t heard during the birthing process,” says Guarnotta.
There’s no exact threshold for trauma, and this applies in the case of birth trauma as well. “Trauma is very subjective,” adds Guarnotta. “What feels traumatic to one person may not feel that way to another.”
A delivery doesn’t have to be “complicated” in order for birth trauma to be experienced
Not surprisingly, complications before or during delivery can increase the odds that someone will experience birth trauma, but even the smoothest delivery can lead to trauma (after all, a human exits another human’s body — it’s kind of a big deal!).
“Experiencing a medical complication increases the risk of birth trauma and postpartum PTSD. This includes needing an emergency C-section, use of vacuum or forceps during delivery, experiencing umbilical cord prolapse, and developing preeclampsia,” says Guarnotta. “Having a baby that needs to stay in the NICU also makes a person more prone to birth trauma.”
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With that being said, Gurnotta adds that a birth that seems completely routine can also cause trauma. “A birth can go medically ‘right’ and still be experienced as traumatic,” she says. “For example, a birthing person who feels disregarded or like their voice isn’t heard can experience their birth as traumatic. A change in birthing plan, even if everything turns out okay, could also be traumatic.”
What other factors can increase a person’s odds of experiencing birth trauma?
“Other experiences that increase a person’s risk of birth trauma include a history of prior traumatic experiences, a lack of support during delivery, and emotional difficulties during pregnancy,” says Guarnotta.
“In most cases there is nothing that you can do before giving birth to prevent birth trauma from happening. The course of childbirth is largely outside of our control,” she adds. “Attending all prenatal appointments, following your provider’s recommendations, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy can be helpful, but there are no proven ways to prevent birth trauma.”
How might someone experience birth trauma?
According to Guarnotta, symptoms of birth trauma can include:
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Intrusive reminders of the traumatic birth (think flashbacks, nightmares, or negative thoughts that are unwanted)
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Avoidance of any reminders of the birth, such as avoiding passing the hospital where the birth happened or not wanting to talk about it
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Changes in thoughts and feelings (including feeling more depressed, experiencing less pleasure in things that were once enjoyable, and blaming yourself for what happened)
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Changes in reactivity, such as difficulty sleeping, feeling more agitated, or being easily startled
When does birth trauma begin and end?
You might think these feelings will start immediately after the traumatic event (in this case, giving birth), but this isn’t always the case.
“Mothers who experience birth trauma may begin having emotional symptoms immediately during or after the birth. Other mothers may not experience reactions for weeks, months, or even longer,” says Guarnotta. “Some new mothers may be so focused on caring for a new baby and adjusting to parenthood that [they] may not realize how much they were impacted by a traumatic birth until they have another baby, which could trigger their birth trauma.”
What can you do if you’re experiencing these symptoms?
As always, if you’re experiencing anything concerning after giving birth — whether physically, mentally, or emotionally — a chat with your healthcare provider is always a good idea. They can point you towards resources to help process any trauma.
What role does PTSD play?
“Birth trauma can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is a mental health condition that includes symptoms like reliving the traumatic event through nightmares and flashbacks, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, changes in thoughts and feelings, and increased reactivity,” says Guarnotta. “Approximately 9% of birthing mothers develop PTSD.”
“In terms of steps you could take after a traumatic birth, getting support and professional help sooner rather than later is important. If you are experiencing symptoms of PTSD or feel like you are struggling and not yourself, speaking with a mental health professional is recommended. Untreated PTSD may not get better on its own. Getting treatment can help you feel better and reduce unnecessary suffering,” adds Guarnotta.
This experience is often invalidated
When a new mother expresses negative experiences around her birth, pregnancy, or some other aspect of new motherhood, people often say something along the lines of “at least the baby is healthy!”. That perpetuates a cycle where birth trauma is suffered in silence and shame.
“It insinuates that her feelings don’t matter because she has a healthy baby,” says Guarnotta. “Comments like this can be harmful and should be avoided when speaking to a mother who has experienced birth trauma.”
Zara Hanawalt is a freelance journalist and mom of twins. She's written for outlets like Parents, MarieClaire, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Motherly, and many others. In her (admittedly limited!) free time, she enjoys cooking, reading, trying new restaurants, and traveling with her family.