Birth Trauma / PTSD

[MummyOf1Boy]

Just wondered if any one else has suffered from birth trauma or PTSD following their birth.

In short both me and my baby are lucky to still be here, especially my baby he’s a miracle.

Its been 6 weeks since he was born and i poured my heart out today to my health visitor. She told me to speak to my GP at my 6 week check as he can refer me to speak to someone and go through what happened during the birth. Any one else done this and did it help.

I still get really upset when I think about the birth and what could have happened. What would I have done if I lost my baby or what would my oldest child have done if something had happened to me.

But then i feel guilty for getting upset as we are both here to tell the tale and some people aren’t lucky enough to have children at all.

I haven’t spoke to anyone else about how I’m feeling so my partner or family or friends don’t know.

Exhaustion doesn’t help either as my OH works away so my days are non stop from 5am to 10.30pm with a newborn, older child doing school runs, homework, teas, baths, housework ect ect.

Any advice?? Xx

I suffered from it. And can still have mild flashbacks with the right/wrong trigger 10 years later. Rare but not impossible for me to experience.
Please look at the Birth Trauma Association website.
And please tell your partner it is ok for them to find this really hard too.

Oh and trust your GP over your health visitor.

I dont seem to have any triggers its just the flashbacks and i can picture all the health visitors and midwives shocked faces when i had told them what happened.

Did u go back to have someone explain the birth?

Also if i havent got triggers do u think that it might not be PTSD and maybe i just need to try and forget it?

Xxx

Definitely try and get a debrief (I think it's called) from the hospital. I didn't get one for 3 years and suffered in silence. The sooner you start to tackle it the sooner you can get past it, I think.
You know how you feel. Trust your own instincts.

I suffered ptsd following a traumatic birth. The first thing that helped me was a debrief - I found understanding exactly what happened really helped. I am now getting counselling- my dr was a huge help so please do talk to them although the referral took a while it’s really helped me. One thing I would say is try to speak to someone close to you about it- I didn’t as I felt embarrassed (very much a thought of people give birth every day - I should get over it) but finally getting the courage to open up to people really helped me and I have wonderful support as a result. Please take care of yourself and know it does get better but make sure you get the help you need x

Please don't listen to any voice - including your own - which says "just get over it". You will, but on your own terms and on your own timescale.
Be kind to yourself.

A debrief helped me but on its own it would have made things worse me.

I was referred to post natal mental health team with query PTSD for birth trauma. I saw an amazing clinical psychologist who just worked with pregnant and postpartum women. I thought my issues all stemed from breast feeding and although we worked on that I found it was actually birth trauma that was the root of my problems.

I tried to get a debrief, but it's not been forthcoming. I did have fabulous birth trauma counselling though, which did amazing things for me.

Hi MummyOf1Boy,

Ask your midwifery team for a debrief or birth reflection meeting. A midwife will go through your notes and explain what they mean. Write down any question you may have before the meeting so you don't forget what they are. Many women find this meeting useful. Some don't but it's worth trying I think. If you don't like it, you can always leave early.
The birth trauma association is the best place to get support or advice about birth trauma (they have a Facebook group you can join). You can suffer from post traumatic stress symptoms without declaring full-blown PTSD. It's important someone assesses you I think. Perinatal mental health services should be best placed. Trauma counselling is probably what you need. Sometimes CBT can help too but it's not necessarily what is needed.
Please don't feel guilty about how you feel. It's not your fault. Incredibly, around 30% of women suffer from PTS symptoms (3%PTSD). Unfortunately it's not talked about and that compounds the inability to talk about it.

Thanks so much for all your replies.

From what I have read i don't think its PTSD as its not affecting my everyday life and I don't have any triggers. Its mainly flashbacks and reliving the parts i can remember. This happens a few times a week.

Maybe im just finding it difficult to forget with it being such a bad experience.

Im definately going to ask my GP for a debrief though xx

Flashbacks are pretty horrid. Please make sure you tell someone.

I am still awaiting a debrief eight weeks on.
I can't remember most of what happened past a certain point - though there are a couple of abstract memories, such as them removing Kirby grips from my hair.

I think I could cope with what happened if only I had a definite timeline - it's the not knowing that is likely to tip me over the edge.

Im going to ask my GP to refer me for a debrief so I can get my questions answered and just have the whole experience explained to me xx

Thanks for all your kind words and advice, its nice to know I'm not alone or going mad xx

Best wishes. You will get through it but I'm so pleased you are asking for a helping hand. Xx

Hi again! I can see the thread has come to a natural end but this article came up and it's relevant.

www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/16313958.help-for-those-experiencing-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-following-childbirth/

Ask your go for some counselling (takes a while though) or maybe a few private sessions?