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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

3 years on I still can't bring myself to talk about the birth - is this normal???

43 replies

footprints · 06/02/2007 09:51

Almost 3 years ago my dd was born in Faro hospital in Portugal. It was a really horrible experience and my overwelming memoriy of it is being terrified. I spoke v little Portuguese and my dh could only be there during visiting hours. He was there at the birth but then made to leave straight after. I was induced, it was awful. Badly torn, no pain relief (none available in that hospital) nothing given to eat or drink after the birth (I had to walk to the drinks machine at 4am a few hours after the birth to get a hot chocolate).

I am shaking writing about it and this isn't the half of it - there was much worse.

I don't think it is unrelated that I have not had sex since the birth

Is this what is called birth trauma? I should be able to laugh about it by now, right??

Any advice?

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trice · 06/02/2007 09:53

Please get some help. You should not be having to deal with this alone. You have been injured and you need healing. So sorry that you have had to have been through this, councelling can help you.

footprints · 06/02/2007 09:55

Thanks Trice. But where would I get help for this?

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colditz · 06/02/2007 09:55

This sounds awful for you and no, it isn't normal. You need to get some counceling for this. look here

Lullabyloo · 06/02/2007 10:00

footprints..firstly >>>>.sweetheart
I am just starting to confront all the trauma & pain & fear I went through 2.5 years ago that is still so real ...
I havn't had a relationship with my dh either since ds was born...& that takes some admitting.
There are some incredible women on MN that will offer support,comfort & advice now that you have made that first brave step to reach out.
I think it's a long old journey...but at least it's begun now.
You are not alone honey..xxx

footprints · 06/02/2007 10:01

Thanks for the link. I'm not in the uk (not in Portugal any more either thank goodness) but it's honestly good to know that I'm not just being daft. I still feel like crying thinking about it

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lissielou · 06/02/2007 10:02

you do need to talk to someone about it. are you back in the uk? the bta

footprints · 06/02/2007 10:02

Lullabyloo - sorry that you are feeling this way too. Are you having counselling?

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TenaLady · 06/02/2007 10:03

Should be a distant memory now. I didnt have a particularly wonderful birth. It took about a year to stop dreaming about it and I was offered counselling by the health visitor.

Get some help, I would.

Lullabyloo · 06/02/2007 10:05

www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk

sorry cant do links

Aloha · 06/02/2007 10:06

I think you have post traumatic stress. It is what soldiers get in battle situations. I am not joking. it is really serious.
This is an article about it:

Mothers 'suffer post-traumatic stress'

Sometimes childbirth can have damaging psychological impact

The experience of labour and childbirth can trigger post-traumatic stress symptoms more commonly associated with disasters and war, say scientists.

A study by psychologists at Sheffield University found that new mothers may experience nightmares and negative and disturbing thoughts and images.

The worst affected seem to be those with unplanned pregnancies and those not accompanied by partners at the birth.

Post-natal distress may be rather broader-based than we had previously thought

Dr Pauline Slade, Sheffield University
Dr Pauline Slade and Dr Jo Czarnocka assessed 264 women within 72 hours of a "normal" birth.

When questioned again six weeks afterwards, one in four women reported experiencing either intrusive thoughts, images or nightmares, actively tried to avoid situations which triggered memories of labour, or showed excessively high levels of wariness.

All these symptoms are features of post-traumatic stress disorder.

However, only 3 per cent showed all these symptoms.

Important factors

The researchers also looked at what factors influenced the development of these symptoms.

They found the length of labour, the pain of birth and the type of birth did not seem to be important.

Women who were not accompanied by partners at the birth or who had unplanned pregnancy were more likely to suffer, as were those who had experienced prior mental health problems.

Women who felt that they had little control over the birth process were also vulnerable.

Those who were fearful during labour were particularly at risk.

Many of those affected said it had changed their plans about having any future children.

Dr Slade said: "These sorts of post-traumatic stress symptoms had been thought to be likely to occur when people had experienced events outside of the range of normal experience.

"It now seems that normal events such as labour may trigger such responses."

"We need to have an understanding that post-natal distress may be rather broader-based than we had previously thought."

The research will be published in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Aloha · 06/02/2007 10:10

This is another piece about it:
here

Remember, this is the same stuff that survivors or torture or the Vietnam war get. We don't expect them to 'laugh about it' after a few years, and you should not expect it of yourself. It wasn't funny and it isn't funny.

footprints · 06/02/2007 10:10

That certainly sounds like me Aloha

Maybe this is why I've suffered such dreadful anxiety.

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Lullabyloo · 06/02/2007 10:12

this is v.early days for me....have been living in a shell since dh arrived.
havn't yet been able to post my story on here but have told another MNer who has been incredibly supportive .
I can't actually vocalise what i went through yet...i cant stop crying & shaking when i try....but it's time to move on now..time to confront what happened & work through it.
I would like to think that I will have another baby one day...but have got a lot of healing to do first.
MN has opened up a glimmer of hope for me & there is a wealth of support & caring on here that i only wish i'd found a long time ago.
Am here if you want to talk furthur honey xx

Aloha · 06/02/2007 10:15

YOu can get NHS counselling for it.
There are a lot of myths around birth and one of the biggest, IMO, and one of the most crushing is 'you forget all about the pain the minute the baby is born'. For some of us, that's insulting crap.

Kbear · 06/02/2007 10:15

I shut away my birth experience and never talked about it UNTIL I fell pg with No.2 by accident. It all came flooding out, midwifes, DH, everyone, completely sympathetic. Had an elective cs with no.2 - a truly serene and wonderful experience and now when I look back I only remember that birth and don't dwell on the first one.

My heart goes out to you - try and find a sympathetic ear, get it all out, cry, sob, rant, then deep breaths and move forward if you can. Bottling it up will only cause you more pain.

Happy to listen if you need me.

Lullabyloo · 06/02/2007 10:15

meant ds arrived

footprints · 06/02/2007 10:21

I am really grateful for all the support. I have been thinking of seeking help for the anxiety I am experiencing and it is very helpful to read that I'm not just being neurotic.

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footprints · 06/02/2007 10:21

By the way, I live in Switzerland now.

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Lullabyloo · 06/02/2007 10:39

it really helped me to write everything that happened down on paper...it brought everything rushing back & also many memories that had been buried...but i can now begin to work through it,bit by bit.
people are too fond of saying 'well at least you have a healthy child' & 'it's all over now' but making a mother who has experienced awful birth trauma feel guilty about her feelings ,feel guilty about havingthose feelings is not going to help her heal.
Those feelings are very real & affect everything that we do & every relationship we have..& need to be addressed.
It's such a relief to find other mothers who have had similar,sometimes far worse experiences & have come out the other side & gone on to have subsequent lo's.
You need some care & tenderness & support from those who know best...MN is wonderful

maisym · 06/02/2007 10:44

fp could the Swiss nct help or point you in the direction of local support for you xxx

Lullabyloo · 06/02/2007 10:56

footprints...lulumama & jabberwocky are darlings & will be able to offer advice & support
Can't find them at the mo tho ...will be along shortly i'm sure

footprints · 06/02/2007 13:14

Thanks for the kind words. I don't know why this is getting to me so much today, for no reason. Talking about it is strange and very uncomfortable.

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Lullabyloo · 06/02/2007 13:41

i know honey...
when lulumama emerges i'll get her to post some links to some past threads which may help.x

3andnomore · 06/02/2007 14:00

(((((((((footprints))))))))) what a terrible time you have had.
It's very normal to feel the way you do after a Birth like that.And yes, I would say that you experienced a Birth trauma.
Some women have Post traumatic stress syndrom after a traumatic Birth, otehrs are more likely to experience PND, other women seem to be able to brush it all easily away, everyone is different.
It might be worth seeking councelling, and also to talk about it, talk about the issues , the emotions, everyhting...I found that really helped me, yes, sometimes I was overwhelmed wiht emotion and would have a very good cry or would just get soooo angry at the treatment I received, BUT I did find it helped me heal.
Maybe have a look at the websites down below.
Birth Trauma org website
Baby centre difficult Birth debriefing Board

lulumama · 06/02/2007 16:31

link to a thread discussing the trauma of a bad birth

i see the birth trauma association has been mentioned several times.. i would definitely recommend you get in touch and i second everything that Aloha has said too...

it is so hurtful when people dismiss the trauma of a bad birth, with , oh as long as the baby is ok, what does it matter how he/she got here.......

there is some wonderful advice on this thread and also support on mumsnet...now you have started talking about it, keep going if you can and really get to grips with it... xxxxxxx