06/05/2022
Birth trauma is distress experienced by a mother during or after childbirth.
While trauma can be physical (as is the case with birth-related injuries), it is often emotional and psychological.
Birth trauma is not just about what happened during labour and the birth. It can also refer to how you, as the mother, are left feeling afterwards.
That is why have adopted the term Psychological Birth Trauma for this research study. The trauma experienced may or may not include a physical injury.
Psychological birth trauma can be a result of:
👉Long labour or short, very painful labour
👉Induction
👉Poor pain relief
👉Feelings of loss of control
👉High levels of medical intervention
👉Surgical births (forceps, vacuum, caesarean births)
👉Impersonal treatment of problems with staff attitudes
👉Not being listened to
👉Lack of information or explanation
👉Lack of privacy and dignity
👉Fear for baby's safety
👉Stillbirth
👉Birth of a baby with a disability resulting from a traumatic birth
👉Poor postpartum care
👉Previous traumatic experiences
If you have experienced a traumatic birth, you are not alone.
However, if you are currently experiencing distress from a traumatic birth experience, you can call your local crisis line, access support through urgent care, or a community-based counsellor.
In Calgary, AB, the local crisis line offers 24-HOUR SUPPORT by calling: 403-266-HELP (4357).
If you are looking for more general information, support and resources, you can also access the Postpartum Support International helpline by calling/texting: 1-800-944-4773 (4PPD)
