IS PTSD COMMON AFTER BIRTH? 

July 1, 2019 /

Written by: Caroline Meyer

What is PTSD? 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder related to pregnancy or Postpartum PTSD is experienced by around 9% of women after childbirth. This can be related to both physical and psychological trauma. Some of the traumas can include an unplanned caesarean, prolapsed cord, baby being admitted to intensive care, forceps or vacuum extraction, difficult in communicating during birth, lack of support and reassurance during delivery, confusion and feelings of powerlessness during the birth. In women that have experience previous traumas such as sexual abuse and rape, the chance of Postpartum PTSD is a lot higher. Severe physical complications such as preeclampsia, cardiac problems, haemorrhage, perineal tears and an unplanned hysterectomy often suffer from PTSD after giving birth. PTSD can change your relationship with your baby and your partner if left untreated. You may be left feeling angry or disappointed. You may also experience flashbacks to the trauma. This may also put you off ever wanting to have another child. 

What are possible symptoms of PTSD? 

  • Nightmares and flashbacks 
  • Reliving the traumatic event repeatedly in your head 
  • Easily angered or upset 
  • Extreme alertness 
  • Problems sleeping 
  • Feelings of hyperreality or unreality 
  • Detachment from people and reality 
  • Increased arousal that is persistent 
  • Avoiding people or places that remind you of the trauma 
  • Startling easily 
  • Drug and alcohol abuse 
  • No emotional response or inappropriate responses 
  • Anxiety and panic attacks 

Treatments for Postpartum PTSD 

Cognitive behavioural therapy, which is trauma focused, specifically designed to treat PTSD. 

EMDR which is a desensitisation and reprocessing treatment involving eye movement. A therapist guides you to make rhythmic eye movements while you are reliving the traumatic event in your head. This is meant to stimulate the way your brain processes information and stores it for recall. This is supposed to help you process the trauma faster so that you can adjust and recover. 

Medication may be offered if the PTSD includes depression and anxiety symptoms. You will not be able to breastfeed while on these medications but can express until you are able to cope and can stop the medication. 

You can learn to cope with PTSD yourself by finding ways to cope with intense emotions. These can include anger management techniques as well as techniques to manage anxiety. Meditation, yoga and breathing exercises can help you stay calm and avoid the triggers that bring out the PTSD. Try and be easy on yourself and don’t worry of it takes time to get over it.  If you are struggling to cope, consult your doctor or specialist organisations that can help you with information and guidance