Traumatic birth - what exactly are flashbacks?

[silverangel]

I had an emergency section at 31 weeks with identical twins. Massive bleed, blue light transfer to another hospital an hour away that could accommodate the three of us and deal with sub 32 weekers. 5cm dilated when arrived at new hospital. No pain relief. Massive bleed, rushed to surgery. Babies whisked to NICU, didn't hear them cry or anything and overheard doctors talking about intubation and getting them breathing. I lost 3 litres and had transfusions.

Thing is the babies are thriving, I had a great recovery and we're all doing brilliantly as a family but at random times the whole scenario pops back into my head and its like its all happening again. I thought I was fine about it but are these flashbacks? I'm a great one for 'putting on a brave face' and gettting on with things so think perhaps I did this with the birth but actually now I need to do something about it?

Any advice greatfully received!

Yup, those certainly sound like flashbacks.. something that his quite normal after such an experience.

If you can, contact your local consultant midwife and get someone to go through your notes with you. Write it all down too, everything you can remember from the experience from your point of view.

It will help her see your side of it.

Flashbacks sounds totally "normal" IYSWIM but definitely worth doing something about.

I have a friend who had a traumatic birth and found counselling and some EMDR really useful but didn't get round to it until her DD was 8 by which point her condition had deteriorated into OCD and acute anxiety impacting her day to day life. I'm not saying that will happen to you but it's easier to sort closer to the event. Flashbacks are essentially a form of PTSD. You should be able to get a referral from GP.

Good luck