PTSD is Affecting More Mothers Than You Realize

It is PTSD Awareness Month. Did you know that PTSD can happen in childbirth? Did you know that it can happen during pregnancy? Did you know that it can be caused by a traumatic childbirth?

Many people assume that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) only happens in war or from abuse or a terrible, violent accident, but post-traumatic stress disorder can occur whenever there is a traumatic situation that has not been resolved such as a traumatic childbirth. Yes, that’s correct; many women, nowadays, are having traumatic birth experiences which are resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder or are triggering previous trauma they already had. This is a topic that is not discussed very often. Most people assume that childbirth is a happy memory and therefore, women with traumatic birth experiences are often keeping their experiences silent. But even if they are not consulting with a therapist, these memories are still stored in the body and can affect their lives and future birth experiences, as well as, their relationship with their child.

Trauma is an experience that most people do not understand. Many people think they can simply think themselves into a happier state. Mind over matter. They believe they can avoid thinking of unpleasant experiences and then the experiences will not live in their minds. But trauma is deeper than this. One cannot think oneself out of trauma by being more positive. One cannot heal trauma by avoiding it and suppressing emotions. Trauma must be healed; otherwise, it will continue to bleed into other areas of our lives.

Reoccurring negative patterns/cycles may surface and even chronic illness can develop, showing clearly, that the body has not healed from the ordeal. People may experience triggers. Memories may return causing visceral reactions: they may have intense emotions or physical sensations. People may have nightmares or try to avoid certain places or locations such as where the trauma happened or any place that reminds them of the location where it happened. For instance, if a woman had a traumatic birth experience, she may never wish to return to the same hospital again. Even if she needed emergency care for something not related to childbirth, she may request to go to another hospital. She may break out in a sweat, hives, become agitated, and feel nauseous thinking about going back to the same hospital. Another possibility is that she may not be able to watch movies which portray a traumatic childbirth. Post-traumatic stress disorder may result in heightened reactions: fears, anxiety, angry outbursts or depression. Symptoms are not the same for everyone. Some people may experience panic attacks and startle easily and others may experience detachment or zone out at times.

It is reported that post-traumatic stress disorder affects more than three million Americans yearly. Statistics say that 34% of women experience a traumatic childbirth and that 9% of women have been diagnosed with PTSD following childbirth (but this number may be higher as many women do not seek assistance for PTSD from childbirth due to shame and the stigma).

Trauma can be caused by:

· An unplanned c-section

· Forceps or vacuum birth

· Obstetric violence

· Baby in the NICU

· Prolapsed cord

· Feelings of powerlessness, poor communication and/or lack of support and reassurance during the delivery

· Severe physical complication or injury related to pregnancy or childbirth, such as severe postpartum hemorrhage, unexpected hysterectomy, severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, perineal trauma (3rd or 4th degree tear), etc.

· Another previous trauma, such as rape or sexual abuse. Feelings and memories may ignite trauma during pregnancy and/or childbirth.

Women who have had a previous trauma are at a higher risk for experiencing postpartum PTSD. It is very important to note that if a woman has a traumatic childbirth and becomes pregnant again without resolving the trauma, she is much more likely to have another traumatic birth. Therefore, it is very important for women to consciously be aware of their previous trauma and work with a trauma specialist to heal before giving birth and after birth if they experienced a traumatic childbirth. A trauma specialist may include some talk therapy, but since trauma is deep and memories are stored within the body, talk therapy alone cannot heal it. It is important to do body work too. Reiki healing (energy work) is a nice alternative to help heal the mind, body, and spirit and can be done without touch which is ideal for those with trauma who may not feel comfortable being touched in certain areas. Yoga is also another great tool to help free the body from trauma, but it is important to work with a professional and not try to overcome trauma alone. Overcoming trauma requires teamwork.

If you need help overcoming trauma or a traumatic childbirth and are interested in holistic healer (to balance the mind, body, and spirit, and heal the trauma for good), please reach out to me. If you heal your trauma you can stop the cycle of trauma, not only for yourself, but for future generations. Heal your past, present, and future.

Comment below. Did you work on healing your trauma before giving birth? Did you know how common PTSD is in the U.S.? Did you know that women can be triggered during pregnancy or childbirth? Did you know that trauma must always be healed?

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