Christina Pickett Reflective Learning EDU-233022-01X
December 3, 2014
Research Paper

Trauma and Birth

Healing from a traumatic birthing experiences could be achieved through reflection. A traumatic birth experience can be described differently by all demographics of women and cover a wide range of reasons for labeling the birth as traumatic. According to Katherine Stone of Postpartum Progress (1) One of the leading causes of post-partum post-traumatic stress disorder is when a women’s reflection of her birth includes some recollection of feeling as if either her life of that of her child was in danger. In some instances depending on if a mother was predisposed to depression or other mental illness, either by prior diagnosis or genetics this recollection of trauma may be very minor in comparison to another experience. We must be open minded when discussing something as a trauma, what might be considered traumatic to one person may have been no issue for another. Katherine Stone of Postpartum Progress describes this as “The actual experience, and how the mother feels about her experience, both matter.” Trauma is defined by Webster dictionary as “Any physical damage to the body causes by violence or accident or fracture etc.” as well as, ”an emotional wound or shock often having long lasting effect.” Synonyms: Psychic trauma.

So how do we learn from a traumatic birth? First we must learn to ask the tough questions. We can’t be afraid to ask our healthcare providers for clarification on what events led to the traumatic experience. To heal from a trauma it helps to have a better understanding of what happened, we need to use all resources this may include requesting medical records or interviewing nurses or other family members that were present at the time and what series of events they can recall. Having a better understanding of the timeline will assist the women as she works on her reflection and begins to better understand the trauma.

The most common trauma described by women during a child birth is when a surgical birth is required. Often time’s mothers who have endured an invasive caesarian section are not only left with the physical discomfort and pain but the psychic trauma. Dr. Phyllis H. Klaus writes that “women who have a surgical birth are more likely to experience feelings of loss, grief, personal failure and lower self-esteem. (2) To combat these negative emotions, and feeling and to advance the healing phase of our trauma proper support is necessary. There are several community organizations available to women who are suffering postpartum depression, post traumatic stress disorder specifically related to birth as well as groups specifically for mothers whom had surgical births. International Cesarean awareness Network or commonly referred to as ICAN, is an example of the support community available. This particular group not only helps with the healing of a surgical birth but also aids in a family’s emotional preparedness to grow a family after such a birth. ICAN organizers and volunteers state, “After a difficult birth, parents must often cope with the physical and/or emotional scars left behind.”

Peer groups to reflect on trauma can be therapeutic and provide comfort in relating to others who have been in a similar situation. These groups offer a wide range of women in the healing process. For some it may be a very recent trauma, while others may be attending long after they have healed from the trauma and are there to offer support and hope to others. Besides peer group women should seek professional counselors or psychological services. Medications are available to aid in the healing process and help counteract the effects of depression. Depression can be scary for a women, the feelings of being overwhelmed or feeling lost can cause a women to feel hopeless. When symptoms are present they should never go ignored. No women should ever feel ashamed or that they failed if they require help.

Partners and spouses are also effected emotionally by a traumatic birth. In more extreme cases if a woman’s life was in danger a loved one may be feeling lost as they had been recently processing the feelings of having a close call with losing a loved one. Or perhaps having almost lost their partner and child. In the less extreme events, mom and baby are home and the partner is now faced with their partner suffering depression. They have a spouse who may be irritable, unhappy and potentially disinterested or unable to properly care for a new infant. This makes for a difficult relationship where you may feel like you are walking on egg shells. Often when a women is experiencing postpartum depression she will withdraw and perhaps isolate herself, as per Katherine Stone of Postpartum Progress. Often time’s fathers expect mothers to be overwhelmed with joy and they have a dramatized or “Hollywood” misconception of how new mothers are truly feeling.

You may be asking yourself how postpartum depression effects the children involved. Maternal depression can affect the social emotional and cognitive development of children. This is caused by mothers who are periodically faced with times where they may be less attentiveness and responsiveness to their children’s needs. (3) Pediatricians are very active in inquiring about a mother’s feelings and moods and help in the aid of diagnosing postpartum depression early on. They often can refer mothers to support groups which we touched base on briefly, they can also refer a women to counseling or physiological services.

Reflection is nothing more than a serious of thoughts of consideration. In order for a women to overcome a traumatic birth of her child the most supportive thing we can give her is time. We can come to her aid and provide all the support we can, we should encourage her to speak with professionals and peers in safe environments. We can love, sympathize, embrace and most of all give her time of reflection. The time in which a woman will need will vary and it won’t always be easy, but then again neither was her experience.

References: 1.) Stone, Katherine. "Postpartum PTSD: Still Fighting To Heal From Her Traumatic Delivery." Http://www.postpartumprogress.com/postpartum-ptsd-still-fighting-to-heal-from-her-traumatic-delivery. Web. 8 Dec. 2014. <http://www.postpartumprogress.com/postpartum-ptsd-still-fighting-to-heal-from-her-traumatic-delivery>. 2.) "Maternal Depression and Child Development." Web. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2724169/>. 3.) "Diseases and Conditions." MayoClinic.Org. Web. 7 Dec. 2014. <Mayclinic.org>. 4.) "Postpartum Depression (PPD) Center: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, Medications, and Tests." WebMD. WebMD. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/depression/postpartum-depression/>. 5.) "International Cesarean Awareness Network » Support." International Cesarean Awareness Network. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. <http://www.ican-online.org/support/>.