What is Birth Trauma Debriefing?

Birth trauma can affect any woman who has given birth. Although it is experienced by many women, most women do not talk about it and many may not even know they have it.

Birth trauma is a normal reaction to events in labour and birth that are scary, out-of-control or painful.  Symptoms might not emerge for many months after the birth, or even later, when you plan for the birth of your next baby. Once the emotions emerge, they are very difficult to live with or control.

Birth debriefing is specific, sensitive and tailored counselling for women who have experienced an unexpected, unpleasant or traumatic birth and are suffering emotionally as a result of it. This suffering may manifest as Insomnia, nightmares, extreme anxiety or depression.

The emotionally-supportive counselling service helps women and their partners to process their experience.

The service extends to planning for the next baby and providing continuity of midwifery care for subsequent pregnancies - either for home birth or hospital birth.

What is Birth Trauma?

Birth trauma is a normal reaction to events in labour and birth that you perceive as scary, out-of-control, helpless, or painful. Birth trauma can result from pregnancy, birth or even the postnatal period. Your response may be one of intense fear, helplessness or horror. Sometimes the events trigger memories of earlier trauma that remain unresolved. Symptoms might not emerge for many months after the birth, or even later, when you plan for the birth of your next baby. Once the emotions emerge, they are very difficult to live with or control.

How will I know if I have Birth Trauma?

The symptoms of birth trauma are many and varied. A common theme is that the trauma interferes with your enjoyment of daily life. The trauma issues may surface at different times, and then completely disappear.

Some women experience:

• Flashbacks of the event and sudden, vivid memories. You will usually feel distressed, anxious or panicky when you’re exposed to things that remind you of the event
• Avoidance of anything that reminds you of the event. Some women never talk about their births or avoid hospitals. In contrast, other women talk about their birth trauma all the time; this is their way of expressing their extreme hurt, anger and fear.
• You may also experience emotions such as anger, irritability, and hyper-vigilance (feeling jumpy or on-guard all the time)
• Nightmares of the birth
• Physiological responses when you are exposed to events resembling the traumatic event, such as panic attacks, sweating and palpitations
• Numbed emotions

What causes it?

Most of the causes of birth trauma can be avoided or lessened considerably by those looking after the woman, through simple measures such as understanding her needs and expectations and providing sensitive care in response. This is where continuity of care programs offered by midwives really benefit women! Explanations need to be provided before interventions are carried out, and your permission needs to be sought before any treatment, procedure or examination takes place in order for you to feel respected and safe. You also have a role to play in clearly communicating your needs and expectations to your care providers.

There is no standard cause of Birth Trauma. Some experiences than can result in birth trauma include:

• Traumatic birth – eg episiotomy, caesarean, forceps, a baby who was injured during birth
• Emergency situations, including caesarean section Lack of pain relief when pain relief has been requested
• Impersonal treatment
• Loss of control over the experience, or the perception that your wishes were not respected
• Being cared for by strangers
• Invasive procedures such as vaginal examinations, episiotomy, stitches Separation from your baby
• Feelings of loss of control – eg an induction that you did not want to have, a caesarean for a breech baby when you wanted a vaginal birth etc Invasive procedures without explanation or your permission
• Forceps delivery or suturing without adequate pain relief
• Post Partum Haemorrhage

Private midwifery care will assist you in your next pregnancy and birth.  Midwifery care that is provided by the same midwife throughout your pregnancy, birth and postnatal period is known to have a positive outcome for you and your baby - physically, psychologically and emotionally.  Private midwifery is available for home or hospital births.