That PTSD is being regularly misdiagnosed as PND?

[Margerykemp]

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2192214/Can-having-baby-Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder-Yes-say-mothers-suffered-flashbacks-nightmares-crippling-depression-.html

Sorry for daily fail link. If you don't want to click the just is that as many as 1 in 3 women have symptoms of PTSD after childbirth and are basically being fobbed off rather than being given trauma counselling.

IMO there's sexism at work here too. PTSD is seen as more of a 'real' problem (by gutter press and ill informed general public, not me btw) than PND, which I think at least partially stems from one being more diagnosed in men eg after war, as if the trauma men suffer is more 'worthy' than the trauma suffered by women.

agree OP

quite distressing stories in this link, the births brutal experiences, yet the mothers were more or less expected to get on with it

dailyfail sensationalism perhaps, but I do believe these mothers, their experiences sound awful

I totally agree! A few friends of mine have been diagnosed with PND, when in fact I believe it's due to the traumatic births they had (one nearly died in cb).

I think its very hard to get a diagnosis for PTSD, even after seeing a therapist for months. On the other side of the coin, trauma can cause depression, so you can understand why some of these women might be diagnosed.

However, think there's very much a behaviour of going to the doctor with a young baby, and you're automatically diagnosed with PND, just like if you go with an unsettled baby, they say "colic" without investigating.

Really hope these women get support, and that they are able to move on with their lives.

1 in 3? 33% women are so traumatised by giving birth in the uk that they have ptsd as if they were soldiers on a battlefield?
I find that very very hard to believe. And I think that such reckless exaggeration is really bad for those who are unlucky enough to actually suffer.

Totally disagree.

I suggest you look up the presenting pattern of these two very different conditions.

And give up reading the DM (is it safe to say that on this site, given it's easily the most cited, and therefore presumably read, agreed with and liked newspaper for MNetters?)

Considering how high the mortality rate used to be for childbirth, logically it makes sense to me that with medical advances women who would have died 100 years ago are experiencing PTSD after medical intervention.

The same women experiencing PTSD are the same women who would be dead now before WWI, I don't think horrible experiences of nearly losing your life/experiencing violent traumatic situations are exclusive to battlefields.

I agree there probably are cases where PTSD is misdiagnosed as PND, but the GP's involved would have to be very ignorant. The symptoms are very different. What I do find worrying is that many counsellors are not trained to recognise the symptoms of PTSD, so aren't referring people on to the help they need.

I agree there probably are cases where PTSD is misdiagnosed as PND, but the GP's involved would have to be very ignorant. The symptoms are very different. What I do find worrying is that many counsellors are not trained to recognise the symptoms of PTSD, so aren't referring people on to the help they need.

do one in 3 almost die or have violent traumatic births? Thank fuck I had all my children somewhere other than the uk, because of all the 50-60 births I know of amongst friends fmily aquaintances, maybe 2 or 3 would come under that heading.
What is wrong with the UK then?

I had a VIOLENT birth with DD almost three years ago.

How was it delt with by the professionals? I was told (shortly after the birth) that I'd be fine and forget all about it in no time.

I still have nightmares about it, and when I recall it during the day I physically clench up all over and start sweating (just writing this is making me very uncomfortable). I have trouble relaxing enough to enjoy sex, go to the loo normally and even get in a panic when my periods due (either because I'm worried it won't come, meaning I'm pregnant and will have to go through it again, or just because I'm going to get period pains).

My midwife got fired for being incompetent. My experience of birth was traumatic and I am glad she went tbh. But doesn't mean i want to discuss birth with anyone. Nightmares, flashbacks. yep completely. It's horrific. Wouldn't wish it on my worse enemy. Never got diagnosed with PND either. Was told that ever one had an experience like mine. I wish I had known better at the time.

Totally TOTALLY agree, I've just been diagnosed with PTSD 18mo after the birth of my son, after being told time and time and time again by my GP that what I was feeling was 'normal levels of PND' and him giving me bag loads of anti-depressants that just made me feel worse.

I had a dreadful labour, I have flashbacks, I have nightmares, if I so much as smell anything that reminds me of it I have a panic attack; I've thought about suicide, I've thought of running away. Finally, on the advice of someone here I went to see a counsellor who straight away diagnosed PTSD and I'm due to start therapy soon. I am never having another baby because this experience has been so awful. Should have been the best 18mo of my life and in so many ways it's been the worst.

Viking I could have written your post. Selfish as arse I know but I'm so glad reading that other women have experienced the same. I feel like a total freak.

Not selfish at all! I know exactly what you mean, don't worry!

I didn't have a violent birth with DD or almost die but it was traumatic enough to me mentally to cause PTSD (diagnosed by my doctor and therapist, my HV went for PND first).

In my case it was a combination of my upbringing and treatment by the hospital that caused it.

I don't talk about it to people because they either assume it was PND or want to know what happened and will then assume it 'wasn't that bad'.

I'm coming out the other side now but for the first three years afterwards I couldn't even hear the word birth without an intense physical reaction; also seven years of flashbacks, nightmares, feeling completely numb except for extreme emotions, incredible terror of getting pregnant again, insomnia, being on alert and paranoid all the time, angry and irritable and in a constant state of panic and stress. I thought about suicide and came very close to doing it twice. It has impacted me physically as well and I have been unwell for years.

I had a breakdown/collapse and have received some help recently and feel like I am starting to come out the other side, I can actually feel happy and laugh again. Even my DH and DM had no idea I was suffering so badly as I hid it so well.