Supporting a New Mum Through Birth Trauma
A Compassionate Approach to Birth Trauma Recovery
Women suffered in silence for a long time when it came to healing and processing traumatic labour, which is why Supporting a New Mum Through Birth Trauma is crucial, as many women experienced births that were out of control, with medical interventions made without their consent by doctors who paid little attention to the emotional state the mother was in.
Here are Some Ways You Can Support a Mother After a Difficult Birth.
1. Listen to Her and Validate Her Feelings
Talking is a great way for her to get out all the emotions and trauma she has experienced. She can even start to process it. Let her know that you’re there to listen.
2. Let Her Grieve The Birth that She Wanted But Did Not Have
It’s okay for her to be upset about the way she delivered the baby. This does not take away the love that she feels for the new child. She didn’t plan on having a traumatic delivery, but the pain, disappointment, and loss she feels are valid.
3. Healing is Both Mental and Physical
Encourage her by letting her know that, although the pain will be there for a while, it won’t last forever. She will eventually look back at her birth with less pain.
4. Do Not Let Future Births and Pregnancies Take Over Your Mind.
Remind her to keep her life in perspective. It’s not time to talk about future babies or be afraid. Instead, focus on this beautiful person you are holding.
5. The Way You Give Birth Does Not Define Who You Are as a Woman or Mother
It’s important to gently remind people that how a woman gives birth doesn’t represent her identity or motherhood. We can’t control everything, so we make the best of the circumstances at the time.
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6. Encourage Her to Join a Support Group for Mothers Who Have Experienced Similar Experiences.
It may help her to gain some perspective and validate her feelings. Mums can turn to organizations like the Australasian Birth Trauma Association for support during this difficult time.
7. Remind Her Gently: No Guilt for Her Emotions.
Some days he will feel overwhelmed, while others he may find it manageable. Do not try to read too much into ups and downs, but accept them as part of healing.
8. Encourage Her to Seek Professional Assistance
If you feel traumatized and grieved for a long time without improvement, a psychologist or counsellor could be very helpful.
9. Feed Her and Take Care of Her Home to Show Her that You Care.
When a mother feels traumatized or fragile, a quick meal or a load or washing of dishes can be a great help. Cleaning surfaces and folding laundry can help her clear her mind.
10. You Shouldn’t Expect Her to See Birth as a Positive Experience Just Because She Has Healed.
Victoria Erickson is the author of Edge of Wonder. Sometimes they need to first sit with their shadow. Sit with them and be their friend. “Make the darkness beautiful.”
11. Support Your Hubby, Too
It can be very difficult for partners to watch their loved one give birth, especially if the birth was traumatic. You can give the mother and partner some time alone by taking their baby for an hour. This will allow them to relax, talk, and hopefully better support each other. Dads can also suffer from postnatal depression, so let him know there is help available. PANDA has some excellent information for fathers who are struggling after the birth of their child.
Quick Ways to Support a Mum After Trauma
As a specialist in pre and postnatal care who runs groups for mothers and babies, you get used to recognizing the signs that a mother has had a difficult birth. I feel for women who cry when other women talk about their positive experiences or leave the room. Women who are unable to put down their babies without worrying. Mums who are constantly on edge and are tense.
It is important to understand that traumatic childbirth can have profound effects on parents, babies, and even the mother. Parents may be surprised to learn how long symptoms such as high arousal and re-experience can persist. For someone suffering from anxiety, hyper-vigilance, and sleeplessness, it can be very confusing and frightening to know what is normal for a new parent and what is symptoms.
Women often open up during classes like mother and baby yoga or baby massage about their birth experiences and their pain.
The sessions are a haven for mothers and babies after a difficult delivery. Yoga and massage are known to be powerful in re-patterning the nervous system of the brain and bringing healing. Both of these techniques naturally induce a relaxed state in a person, which can help to calm the over-stimulated flight or fight response that may remain active after a difficult experience.
1. You Can Acknowledge and Validate Their Feelings
by saying, “I’m not surprised that you feel that way given what you’ve been through. That sounds difficult”. You can assure them that the symptoms of a traumatizing birth are normal responses to a stressful event. This information can be comforting for someone who may feel confused or even scared by their experience.
2. Encourage Self-care During This Period.
It can be difficult to encourage self-care because parents feel they must focus their attention and care on their child, leaving no room or time for them to acknowledge their recovery. If you position self-care as an investment, it will be more appealing.
Self-care is any activity that helps them rest and recover physically and mentally. This could include enlisting the help of doulas or maternity nurses, friends, or relatives to look after their child while they rest. Asking for help is crucial to preventing deeper mental problems such as PND.
3. Assure Them That Symptoms Can Disappear
after 8 weeks, as their body heals from what is comparable to a mental trauma. While the symptoms may be a natural response to the horrible thing that occurred, the symptoms that persist do not have to be accepted. Tell them that, if after 8 weeks they still don’t feel any better, there are treatments that can help, like Rewind or EMDRS. Just knowing there is help available can be a comfort to those who are suffering.
How to Move Forward After a Difficult or Traumatic Birth Experience
You may have negative thoughts about your birth after the baby is born. You might be excited to see your child, but also frustrated, angry, and disappointed. You may be traumatized by your birth experience. Many mothers are told, “You’ve got a healthy child, don’t worry about it.” It’s not helpful to say, “That was in the past.” You need someone who can understand how traumatic your experience has been for you.
Birth trauma is experienced by one-third of mothers. Birth trauma is emotional distress or psychological distress caused by events that occurred during childbirth. Birth trauma can be caused by a wide range of childbirth experiences. You or your child may have been in an emergency where you were at risk of injury or even death. You may have experienced a birth that was not medically complicated. Birth trauma is often caused by feelings of mistreatment and extreme fear.
It can also be caused by feelings of hopelessness, loss of dignity, or a sense of being abandoned. Birth trauma can be caused by feeling that you weren’t listened to, or supported during your birth. You might feel disappointed because the birth was not what you had hoped. After giving birth, mothers often experience mixed emotions. It’s okay to be happy and sad about your child’s birth at the same time.
Birth Trauma Can Be Extremely Painful and Isolating. Some Parents May Experience Distressing Symptoms, Such As:
- Reliving or experiencing traumatic birth aspects
- Nightmares, flashbacks, and nightmares
- Avoiding people, places, or situations that are related to birth (for instance: avoidance hospitals).
- Sleep difficulties
- Detachment feelings (for example, feeling distant from your child) Frequent crying
- Changes in appetite
- Feeling hopeless
- Loss of interest in things that you used to love.
It may be difficult for you to discuss what happened during your birth. You might be afraid to ask someone for help. It’s important to seek support if you are in distress. You can get support from your primary care provider, or other healthcare professionals. They will help you to process the events surrounding the birth of your child. For more information, see Baby Blues and PPD, Postpartum PTSD.
You may have difficulty forming a relationship with your child after a traumatic birth. You may feel distant or detached. You may feel avoidance towards your baby because she reminds you of the trauma of your birth. After a traumatic experience, it is normal to feel detached and avoidant. It is not necessary to be ashamed. It can be beneficial to seek support from family members, friends, a therapist, or healthcare providers.
It is not necessary to explain to anyone your feelings about the birth experience. People react differently to similar events. It’s important to know how you feel. You may need time to process your emotions. That’s okay. It can be a huge difference if you have the right support and time to resolve your negative feelings about birth.
Your birth story will be yours. Your story may not be what you wished for, but it’s yours. This is your story about how you became parents. Even the negative aspects may teach you something in time.
Breastfeeding After a Difficult Delivery
You may feel that the birth of your child has negatively impacted your breastfeeding. It is possible. Some mothers feel like failures after a difficult delivery. These feelings of failure may be exacerbated if there are problems with breastfeeding. A difficult birth can make nursing more challenging and less likely to succeed.
It’s not always the case, but this is possible. If breastfeeding does not go according to plan, this can add to your trauma. Even if your breastfeeding experience is difficult, you can still develop a relationship with your baby. You can achieve your nursing goals with the right information and support.
A difficult birth can negatively impact breastfeeding in many different ways. It can cause physical and hormonal changes that make breastfeeding more difficult. Postpartum hemorrhage and retained placenta, for example, can cause low milk production. This can lead to a loss of confidence in mothers. With the right support, breastfeeding problems can be resolved.
Getting help as soon as possible after a difficult birth is important. Remember that breastfeeding is an art. After a major life event, it can be difficult to pick up a new skill. It’s important to get support, even if your nursing career seems to be going smoothly. Reassurance can help boost your confidence.
