Birth Trauma

For some parents, childbirth does not follow the route the they had hoped for. Occasionally, complications can arise during childbirth and this can sometimes be a frightening experience. Sadly, 30% of couples describe their birth as traumatic. A significant group will go on to develop symptoms of PTSD and some will reach threshold for diagnosis. Untreated trauma can lead to ongoing anxiety, challenges connecting with baby or partner, post-natal depression and ongoing distress in subsequent pregnancies. We offer tailored, trauma-informed therapy to women or their partners, including EMDR.

Trauma responses are not limited to challenging births. Other events such as miscarriage and baby loss, premature births, long journeys with infertility and NICU stays can also lead to post-trauma reactions. Our experienced psychologists are able to support you with any aspect of your parenting journey that you may have found traumatic.

Please reach out to a health care professional if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms;

• Intrusive images of the birth/NICU stay

• Intense or disturbing emotional responses to memories or reminders of the event

• Nightmares or trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep (not including night wakings for baby)

• Avoidance of reminders of what happened- avoiding pictures, talking about the birth or NICU stay, avoiding people or places.

• You are struggling to connect with your baby.

• Feeling anxious or on edge all the time as if something terrible might happen.