Birth trauma

What is birth trauma?

Birth trauma relates to the symptoms of distress you might experience after having gone through or witnessed, a traumatic birth. It can also relate to negative experiences you may have had in pregnancy, around feeding and your experiences in the hours, days and weeks post birth. 

All sorts of things can make birth traumatic, such as a difficult instrumental birth, an emergency cesarean or a postpartum hemorrhage.

Very long, difficult labours can be traumatic, as can short, intense ones.

If your baby is born premature or unwell and has to spend time in special care, that can be traumatising too.

Birth trauma can stem from actions after birth

Birth trauma can also be experienced by those who had a very straight forward delivery with little complication, but felt negatively impacted by other factors, such as the care or emotional support they received or how they were spoken to or treated by others.

Those suffering from pregnancy related medical conditions such as hyperemesis gravidarum (extreme, persistent nausea/vomiting during pregnancy) or pelvic girdle pain or symphysis pubis dysfunction can feel traumatised from their experience.

Complications and difficulties around feeding baby and lack of postnatal care and compassion can also lead to birth trauma.

All birth experiences are valid and worthy of support.

At Light we offer one to one and group peer support specifically around birth trauma, provided by those with lived experience. You do not need a diagnosis or to meet a specific criteria to receive this support, you can self-refer or be referred by a professional.  

The support provides a safe space to share thoughts, feelings and experiences, without fear of judgment or comparison.

We provide time and space with genuine care and compassion in order to aid healing.

We offer trauma informed peer support, that is service user led, which means we are committed to listening to and adapting to your needs.

Contact Light Peer Support today

If you’re suffering following the birth of your child, in any way, and would like to talk to one of our peer support workers, please contact us today. 

All our sessions are confidential, safe, non judgemental places. You’re not alone, we’re here to help you see that there is Light at the end of the tunnel.