Online therapy for overwhelmed moms across Maryland
Reproductive Birth Trauma
If Childbirth Didn't Go As Planned
A traumatic stress reaction can occur when conception, pregnancy, or delivery doesn't go as planned.
We've curated lists to help healthcare providers, birth-families, and support persons learn about the risk factors and symptoms of traumatic stress during labor and delivery. Similar risk factors and concerns may arise from traumatic stress during pregnancy, conception, or pre-conception. The list is provided for educational and informational purposes. We do not expect you to self-diagnose based on what you read here.
Trigger warning: This list includes words that may be difficult for many people. Those who suspect they may have experienced trauma are especially at risk of intrusive graphic imagery and/or flashback. Feel free to skip this section.
No matter where you were on your reproductive journey, our targeted trauma therapy can help you feel like yourself again.
Symptoms of Reproductive (Birth) Trauma
Brainspotting to Heal Birth Trauma
Our perinatal moms and dads are some of our highest achievers, when it comes to Brainspotting for traumatic relief. Many make a full recovery within just a few sessions, or a single Intensive, although it may take longer if you've experienced previous trauma.
Our clients report better sleep, feeling more at ease, no more flashbacks, decreased intrusive thoughts, improved bond with baby, and a positive outlook on future pregnancy and childbirth.
Medical risk-factors for birth trauma:
Pre-term delivery
High risk pregnancy
Hemorrhage or excessive blood loss
Unplanned medical interventions
Emergency medical event of baby
Emergency medical event of mother
3rd or 4th degree perineal tear
Unplanned or emergency Caesarian
Prolonged hospitalization of mother
NICU stay
Prolonged hospitalization of baby
Loss
social/environmental risk factors:
Previous adverse perinatal experience
No support system
Conflict between birth parents
Provider/facility fatigue
History of anxiety, mood, or psychotic disorder
Insufficient informed consent
Unstable housing, occupational, or income soruce
Symptoms of birth trauma:
During birth-
-Feeling confused (what happened? Am I remembering things correctly?)
- Feeling unheard, misunderstood, unsupported by support person(s), staff, nurse(s), or doctor(s).
-Feeling detached from body
-Watching yourself experience birth from outside of your body.
After birth-
-Seeing images from the birth experience after it occurred.
-Hearing sounds related to the birth experience after it occurred.
-Feeling body sensations just like they occurred during labor or delivery.
-Experiencing a sense that the birth experience is not over, an intense fear of
life or safety.
-Thinking or saying things that point to a sense of powerlessness or hopelessness.
-Difficulty sleeping (not due to baby's needs), dreams or nightmares, even if you do not know the content. Many will say "I'm afraid to go to sleep but I don't know why" or "I have bad dreams but I don't remember them once I wake up."
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