Healing from a Traumatic Birth: EMDR for Birth Trauma Can Help
You had a vision for your baby’s birth. You made all the plans and bought all the books. You talked to mothers in your community. You knew it would be hard, but you never expected that it would be traumatic.
If you’ve experienced a birth trauma, I want you to know that your experience doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. It is valid no matter what you experienced and you deserve support.
What is a Birth Trauma?
A birth trauma is a birth in which the mother experiences trauma either during the birth or shortly after delivery. Unfortunately, up to 45% of new moms experience a traumatic birth. Trauma occurs when we experience an event in which we feel helpless, horrified, or fear that we are at risk of serious injury or death. You can read more here to learn more about how trauma uniquely impacts women.
While trauma looks different for everyone, let’s explore some common ways that new moms are affected during a traumatic birth.
You Felt Alone: Isolation is often a factor in traumatic experiences. You may have not had a support with you in the delivery room. Or maybe you advocated for your needs to the medical team and felt unheard or invisible.
You Felt Helpless: While you likely prepared in every way possible, you know that plans can quickly change once at the hospital. You may have found yourself faced with big decisions with little time to fully think through your wants and needs for your growing family. You may have felt pressured, helpless, or confused in adjusting to all the sudden changes.
You Felt Fearful: Birth is complicated and what can start off as routine can quickly escalate to a matter of life and death for you and/or your baby. You may have felt like your body was out of your control or that you couldn’t really connect to your physical experience during birth. Maybe you were told that your baby wouldn’t make it or that they would experience long-lasting complications.
Asking for support after a traumatic event can feel incredibly vulnerable.
If you want to learn more about how you can start healing through EMDR for birth trauma, reach out for a free 30-minute consultation.
What Types of Experiences are associated with a Birth Trauma?
While everyone’s birth trauma can look different, I want to explore some areas where you may have experienced trauma during the labor or the birthing experience.
Labor Complications
Unexpected medical issues can be incredibly scary at any stage of life, but can feel more vulnerable and out of your control when they involve your new baby. Many parents spend a lot of time and energy devoted to picking out the birthing plan that best fits their expanding family and it can feel disappointing, confusing, and frustrating when things feel out of your hands.
Time spent in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Each year, more than 300,000 families in the United States have a baby who requires medical care in the NICU. Getting the news that your baby will need to spend time in the NICU can be overwhelming, scary, and exhausting. This can also be an uncertain time for parents as they wait for feedback while trying to navigate a whole new system which can lead to feelings of helplessness throughout the process.
Negative Medical Experiences
You picked out the OBYGN, doula, or birthing center. You got to know these new faces, learned to trust them with your health and the safety of your baby. While many parents invest time in building a medical community around their baby’s birth, you likely came across a lot of different medical personnel on the big day.
With all these new faces, you may have experienced some negative medical experiences. Maybe someone made you feel bullied or pressured to make a big decision. Perhaps you advocated for your needs and felt dismissed or belittled. Whatever your experience was, birth trauma can develop when you feel unheard, helpless, or without a sense of agency for your baby’s health or your own.
Emergency C-Section
You may have experienced some big changes to your birth plan. For mamas who have emergency c-sections it can feel like you have no control. Of the circumstances. Of your baby’s health. Of your own body. Of anything.
Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or infant Loss
There are no words to describe the pain and overwhelm that you feel after losing your little one. You may feel stuck, unable to move, to react, or to receive care or support as you grieve. Or you may jump right back into work and try to “move past” the pain.
A birth trauma therapist can help!
Wherever you are in your grief journey, therapy for birth trauma can help you move forward rather than “move on” from your experience.
How Do I know if I’m Experiencing PTSD from a birth trauma?
Let’s go over some symptoms of PTSD and trauma and if you want a deeper dive, then please check out my comprehensive guide to trauma and EMDR.
✨ Physical Symptoms: These may include panic attacks, trouble sleeping, fatigue, mood swings, changes in appetite, excessive crying, and difficulty bonding and attaching to your new baby (to name a few).
✨ Cognitive Symptoms: You may experience trouble concentrating, difficulty relaxing, and racing thoughts. You may also find that you struggle with trust when thinking about the safety of the world around you. You may have thoughts like: “The world is completely unsafe” or “All medical providers are harmful.” These thoughts may also impact how you see yourself and you may think, “I don’t know if I can take care of my baby.”
✨ Flashbacks and Nightmares: You may find yourself reliving the event on repeat. Many parents with postnatal PTSD share that they wake from nightmares about the traumatic events of their childbirth experience.
✨ Avoidance or Reminders: If you are experiencing postnatal PTSD, you may find that you struggle with reminders of your baby’s labor story. For example, you may struggle when going to check-ups with your physician - feeling like the event is happening all over in your mind or body.
How do I ask for help?
Experiencing a birth trauma can change how you look at yourself and others. It’s life-changing.
Medical Support
If you experienced a birth trauma and are experiencing traumatic birth PTSD, then the last thing you may want to do is to speak with a medical provider, especially if the interaction with medical personnel was part of that trauma.
While it’s not easy, it is important to speak with your medical team - especially as there are other postnatal issues they can detect and help with (e.g., postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, etc…).
Mental Health Support: EMDR for Birth Trauma
If you are struggling with postnatal PTSD, a birth trauma therapist can help. At Worth and Wellness Psychology, I offer therapy for birth trauma by using eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) as well as emotion-focused therapy (EFIT) and other techniques to help you learn to fully explore, process, and flourish.
Mom Support
One of the best ways to feel less alone or isolated following a birth trauma, is to connect with other moms who have similar experiences.
Online support groups can be a great way to connect with other moms. There are often mom’s groups through your local hospital or you can ask for a referral from your physician or therapist.
You Don’t Have to Struggle Through Your Birth Trauma Alone.
Start Healing With EMDR for Birth Trauma in Los Angeles, CA
Take the first step towards healing and support. If you've experienced a birth trauma, know that your experience is valid and you deserve help. Don't let it define you or consume your life. Consider starting EMDR for birth trauma at Worth and Wellness Psychology.
You don't have to face this journey alone. Connect with a birth trauma therapist who can provide you with support and guidance. In order to get started follow these steps:
Schedule your first appointment for EMDR for birth trauma
Stop struggling alone and start healing
Other Therapy Services Offered in Los Angeles & Irvine, CA
At Worth and Wellness Psychology, I offer in-person therapy in Los Angeles and online throughout California. This includes individual therapy for relationship issues, dating, and anxiety. In addition to therapy for therapists women of color, and Highly Sensitive People. Reach out to learn more about how I can support you.
