Approximately one in three women report that their births were traumatic.  In some situations, the trauma is more visible to others (such as an emergency C-section, physical injury, hemorrhaging, fetal trauma, unexpected hysterectomy, unexpected diagnosis, etc.)  Other times, however, the trauma is more hidden.  

 

A birth doesn’t need to be obviously dangerous or life threatening to have a negative impact on a mother.  Even when women appear to have an uncomplicated birth experience, their internal experience may have been marked by feelings of powerlessness, confusion, fear, and isolation.    

 

Some mothers may receive messages from others such as  “You're a mom now and your needs don’t come first anymore” or “At least the baby is healthy.”   

 

Unfortunately, there can be a ripple effect of how a mom feels during a difficult birth that affects her responses in the weeks and months that follow. Some moms report feelings of emptiness, difficulty bonding with their babies, lack of confidence in motherhood and their bodies, hypervigilance, postpartum depression or anxiety, and feelings of failure and anger.  

 

At Lasting Wellness, we are here to help you understand why you feel so bad, make sense of what happened and be able to grow and move on from this difficult experience.   If you have experienced a difficult birth and would like help, please request an appointment.

​

Return to last page