Some psychological symptoms, including the 'baby blues', are very common around the time of birth. But if you still feel distressed 2 or more weeks after the birth, you could have postnatal depression or anxiety. In some cases, not getting treatment for birth trauma can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A traumatic birth can lead to lasting medical problems in the infant, such as brachial plexus injuries, brain damage, and more. When birth trauma is caused by negligence or medical malpractice, parents have the right to pursue legal compensation for their children's injuries.
Are infants too young to experience and remember painful emotions or traumatic events? A growing body of research suggests no, and researchers believe that if left untreated, trauma experienced in infancy can sometimes result in lifelong health consequences.
Symptoms of birth trauma (postnatal PTSD)
This can mean refusing to walk past the hospital where you gave birth, or avoiding meeting other women with new babies. Feeling hypervigilant: this means that you are constantly alert, irritable and jumpy. You worry that something terrible is going to happen to your baby.
It is already known that there are lower birth rates among those who have experienced a traumatic birth (Gottvall and Waldenström, 2002), and higher rates of elective cesarean section among those women who do have more children (Kottmel et al., 2012).
Birth trauma is any physical or emotional distress you may experience during or after childbirth. During the birth, you may feel afraid, helpless or unsupported by those around you. After the birth, you may be left feeling guilty or numb due to events beyond your control. You could even suffer from panic attacks.
Postnatal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder. It is also known as birth trauma. You may develop postnatal PTSD if you experience traumatic events during labour or childbirth.
Common reactions to trauma in babies and toddlers
a kind of 'frozen watchfulness' – the child may have a 'shocked' look. giving the appearance of being numb and not showing their feelings or seeming a bit 'cut off' from what is happening around them. loss of playful and engaging smiling and 'coo-ing' behaviour.
Most unresolved childhood trauma affects self-esteem and creates anxiety. Did you suffer a serious childhood illness? If so, you were likely isolated at home or hospitalized. This meant being removed from normal social activities and you probably felt lonely, maybe even worried about being different.
Unhealed childhood wounds can manifest themselves in a variety of ways, including feelings of fear, low self-esteem, insecurity, PTSD, and difficulty forming trusting relationships.
Women who have suffered birth trauma may be at risk of increased fear and anxiety around their child's health and their parenting abilities. Some women may experience this as feeling a lower emotional attachment to their infant. Women who experience birth trauma should be offered support during early parenting.
Facial nerve: Facial nerve is the most common cranial nerve-injured with a traumatic birth. It occurs in up to 10 per 1000 live births and is usually a result of pressure on the facial nerve by forceps or from a prominent maternal sacral promontory during descent.
Anxiety, hypervigilance, a feeling of being disconnected, overwhelming thoughts, or panic in the days, weeks, or months following the birth are just some of the symptoms you may experience after birth trauma, according to Benjamin.
Adults who have experienced childhood trauma usually have heightened levels of anxiety. They may worry excessively and have trouble managing their anxiety. It can lead to persistent feelings of sadness, lack of interest in activities, and difficulty experiencing pleasure.
Birth injury brain damage. Head and brain injuries are the most common birth-related injuries. Brain damage caused by an injury before, during, or after delivery can cause a child to suffer lifelong physical and/or mental disabilities. In severe cases, it can lead to cerebral palsy.
Physical trauma
On top of this, hormones fluctuate considerably, making new mothers perhaps more emotional than normal. While every new mother is different, it generally takes between six and eight weeks for the body to recover after giving birth.
Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not a specific process but can last for months and may manifest itself during any subsequent pregnancies or even become chronic.
Dissociative experiences can occur during childbirth, in particular symptoms such as a sensation of a change in the pace of time during the event/things seeming to be happening in slow motion, not being aware of events, and disorientation.
Traumatic birth compensation claims. If you suffered a traumatic experience during childbirth which has led to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you might have a claim for compensation if it was due to medical negligence.
The researchers found that those children exposed to complications during childbirth were 10% likelier to develop autism while those who were exposed before labor were 22% likelier to develop autism.
Women with birth trauma often find it hard to bond with their baby. After a traumatic birth, it's not unusual for the mother and baby to be separated, either because the mother is ill or the baby is. Sometimes women give birth by caesarean section under general anaesthetic and are not present for their baby's birth.
The shock of what happened during the birth process can bring about a number of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and other disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some people experience severe emotional distress after a traumatic birth even though there was no physical trauma.