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Postnatal health

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Traumatic Birth and Panic Attacks/Anxiety

2 replies

kidsareok · 02/01/2021 12:33

After a traumatic birth 12 days ago which involved 40 hours of induced labour, multiple increases in the hormone drip, two epidurals and eventually an episiotomy and forceps in theatre where I had a massive panic attack, I've been left feeling pretty horrified at the birth. When I was discharged I woke up in the night with a huge panic attack thinking I was going to die. An ambulance was called and I was taken back to hospital - they couldn't find anything wrong and all checks were fine. Since then I have been waking every night with severe night terrors, flashbacks etc. I have health anxiety and I'm convinced the epidural has damaged my nerves and I'm going to die and not see my baby again. I feel like I have been hit by a bus and my body hates me. I have had to take sleeping tablets after becoming delirious as I hadn't slept for 7 days straight. All in all I've had a nightmare 😢 and I just want anyone who's had a similar experience to tell me that it's going to be ok and one day it'll all be a memory? I have my beautiful baby but in no way was I prepared for this. I just feel like everything is so overwhelming.

OP posts:
SilentlyLaughing · 02/01/2021 14:24

Oh you poor thing.
I also suffered panic attacks and woke in terror for months after a traumatic birth, it does get easier. Please speak to the dr and midwife for support. You should be able to be referred for counselling. I hope things improve for you soon Flowers

www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/postnatal-depression-and-perinatal-mental-health/ptsd-and-birth-trauma/

www.babycentre.co.uk/a1011239/how-to-recover-after-a-traumatic-birth

Gerdticker · 07/01/2021 09:43

Yes I had a traumatic birth with my first child. In the first few weeks afterwards, I just felt confused about it but grateful my baby and I were ok. But it played on my mind and then when I conceived my 2nd child, proper PTSD kicked in with flashbacks etc

The only way through it is talking therapy. The above poster has given you some great links.

I believe most trusts offer the chance to talk through your notes with a midwife now. You can request a copy of your notes to be sent to you, I did - I had to fill a form in on my trusts website, send some ID to them, and then they sent the notes in about a month.

Once I had read my notes and talked to midwives I felt soo much better. Understanding what happened was the key to healing for me.

I went on to have a super second birth in the water at my local hospital

Good luck x

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