Birth trauma is more common than many people may realize, and it can leave lasting emotional and physical effects after a difficult birth.
The signs of birth trauma vary, but what matters most is how the experience felt to you.
Healing is possible through self-care, support from loved ones, and professional help, which can make recovery feel less overwhelming.
Birth trauma happens when someone experiences a physically or emotionally difficult birth. It can leave a lasting impact on their mental and emotional well-being. It can include things like emergency procedures or intense fear during labor. You might notice memories of the birth keep coming back or feel anxious about future pregnancies.
Birth trauma is more common than many people may realize. Studies suggest that around 1 in 3 people may experience a birth that feels traumatic in some way. Understanding what birth trauma is and knowing you’re not alone can be the first step toward healing and finding support.
Signs you’ve experienced birth trauma
You don’t have to meet a strict definition for your experience to “count” as birth trauma. What matters most is how you felt during or after birth. If it felt overwhelming, frightening, or left you feeling unsafe, that’s valid.
Some parents notice signs like:
Reliving parts of the birth: You might hear the beeping of hospital monitors in your head or dream about what happened.
Feeling anxious at doctor visits: Even simple things, like someone checking your blood pressure, can bring back the fear.
Avoiding reminders: Switching off a TV show with a birth scene or steering clear of the road that passes the hospital could be signs of birth trauma.
Trouble sleeping: Your mind keeps replaying “what-if” thoughts, even when your baby is sound asleep.
Feeling on edge or jumpy: Your heart races when you hear the baby monitor go off suddenly.
Struggling with body changes: You don’t want to look at your scar, or you feel disconnected from what you see in the mirror.
Birth trauma is different from postpartum depression. Depression often feels more like deep sadness, guilt, or loss of interest in things you used to enjoy — even bonding with your baby.
If trauma symptoms last more than a month and interfere with daily life — especially if you’re often reliving the event, feeling on high alert, or avoiding reminders — it may be post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If you notice this happening, it’s important to reach out to a mental health professional for support and treatment.
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Contributing factors to traumatic childbirth
Traumatic birth can arise from a combination of physical, psychological, and emotional experiences, with certain risk factors increasing the likelihood.
Physical factors may include:
Requiring emergency medical interventions
Experiencing birth complications
Having severe pain or inadequate pain management
Experiencing significant injury
Feeling restrained
Psychological factors may include:
Perceiving a threat to your life or your baby’s
Feeling ignored or dismissed when expressing concerns
Lacking control or being excluded from decision-making
Facing misinformation or unexpected medical complications
Emotional factors may include:
Feeling disrespected or violated by providers
Lacking emotional support during labor and delivery
Feeling isolated or the absence of a trusted support person
Resurfacing of previous trauma such as abuse or medical trauma
Having a history of mental health conditions like depression or PTSD
The impact of a traumatic birth experience
A traumatic birth can have long-lasting effects beyond the delivery. Parents may experience postpartum depression, anxiety, or PTSD. They might fear future pregnancies, have trouble bonding with their baby, or feel guilt and shame about what happened.
Babies and families can be affected too. Infants may have feeding or sleep problems — especially if separated from a parent after birth. Partners and other family members may feel stressed or helpless. And relationships can be strained as everyone adjusts to the emotional impact.
Paths to healing from birth trauma
Healing from birth trauma takes time, but there are ways to support yourself and feel better. Different strategies can help depending on what you need.
Reduce risk during birth: Learn about your options and share your birth preferences with your care team. Try to have a trusted support person with you at your appointments. Knowing what to expect and having someone to advocate for you can help your experience.
Self-help strategies: Try mindfulness or journaling to clear your mind. While simple habits like deep breathing or short walks can help you manage stress and process emotions.
Professional support: Trauma-informed therapy can help you work through difficult experiences. A psychiatrist may also help if medication is needed for anxiety or depression.
With patience, support, and the right strategies, birth trauma can be addressed. Over time, you can feel stronger and more like yourself, and confidently care for your baby.
A common mistake is trying to push through birth trauma alone; reaching for support, like therapy, is often the first step toward real healing. You don’t have to carry this on your own.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Clinical reviewer
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Birth trauma can affect parents in many ways. It can impact emotions, health, and family life. Healing is possible. With self-care, support from loved ones, and help from a mental health professional, you don’t have to go through it alone.
At Rula, we’re committed to delivering a comprehensive behavioral health experience that helps people feel seen and understood so they can get back to feeling their best.
Rula makes it easier to find a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider who accepts your insurance so you don’t have to choose between affordable care and excellent care. With a diverse network of more than 15,000 providers, 24/7 crisis support, and appointments available as soon as tomorrow, we're here to help you make progress — wherever you are on your mental health journey.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Having faced challenges like childhood abuse, neglect, and the loss of her father to suicide, Brandy Chalmers is deeply passionate about providing compassionate care. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Registered Play Therapist with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy.
Brandy also teaches at a university, sharing her expertise with future mental health professionals. With over a decade of experience in settings like inpatient care and private practice, she specializes in helping clients with perfectionism, trauma, personality disorders, eating disorders, and life changes.
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