Birth Trauma: PTSD

symptoms include:

* flashbacks to the birth or reliving parts of the experience

* nightmares including being scared to go to sleep

* avoiding anything you may associate with your birth trauma

* intrusive thoughts that you can’t control

* hypervigilance – being constantly alert with an increased startle response

* Panic Attacks

* Tokophobia – fear of childbirth

* Arousal – angry outbursts, irritability.

* frightening thoughts – for example, about hurting your baby; these can be scary, but they’re very rarely acted upon or thinking about suicide and self-harm

Birth Trauma is real (and an issue which few healthcare professionals know how to deal appropriately with) and unfortunately it is suggested that a further 20 – 25% of women have symptoms that go undiagnosed. This is particularly the case if they don’t meet the full criteria for PTSD and women are mistakenly diagnosed as having post-natal depression, PND. Those who suffer from birth trauma may be prescribed anti-depressants, but this may mask the problem and never treats the trauma. However, you should never stop taking medication without discussion and advice from the prescriber.

Many women are too scared to own up to how they really feel, for fear that their baby will be taken away from them. Many women will report still going through the motions of motherhood, but with a feeling of disconnect from the baby and a lack of the normal feelings of love. They may become overly anxious about their baby’s safety – hypervigilant. Feeling intense feelings of anxiety that something terrible is going to happen to their baby, constantly on the lookout for danger. Alternatively, they may think of ways to leave their baby safely with someone, reject their baby, or have feelings of wanting to harm the baby or end their own lives. Owning up to such feelings then becomes a hugely guarded secret, increasing feelings of isolation, that so often accompany symptoms of PTSD. They may feel pressure to keep quiet about it as partners urge them to stop going on about it, triggered by their own feelings of being unable to help.

Birth Trauma Assessment for Treatment

Healing from birth trauma and PTSD is possible with the right support and treatment. These sessions take you from where you are right now to being able to enjoy life again and being able to fully function.

Take the first step towards recovery and let us be a part of your transformational path to healing and renewed hope.

These sessions are facilitated online (if you are not local) in the comfort of your own home.

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