Many women experience childbirth as a true miracle and a challenging, yet positive, experience.
For some women, childbirth is quite the opposite. As a result, these women suffer from birth trauma and their experience is anything but a miracle.
Birth trauma refers to the post-birth state where some women have experienced symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms may include silence, shame and nightmares. If you or a loved one experienced birth trauma, an experienced birth trauma lawyer may be able to tell you if you have any legal recourse.
What Causes Birth Trauma in Women?
For some women, having birth instruments inserted inside them can lead to birth trauma. Without consent, placing speculums, fingers, cotton swabs and other common instruments inside the vagina is a form of mistreatment to some mothers.
Women with posttraumatic stress disorder have reported panic attacks near the birth site, flashbacks and a general feeling of sadness. Symptoms can last for up to a year and relapses can occur. Asking doctors and nurses to treat the mother with respect and to not overly-control the birth process may prevent birth trauma. Ask permission before touching or inserting any instrument into the vagina. Pay close attention to the mother’s comfort level.
Have the mother talk about her birth experience afterward, and allow her to express how she felt treated. This can help her see that her abuse was recognized and addressed.
Some are skeptical about whether birth trauma actually exists. They say that sufferers are exaggerating their symptoms. Other skeptics claim that a past incident of sexual assault causes the PTSD and the childbirth brings it back to mind.
Proponents of birth trauma say that the pain suffered is real and that they are actual victims. After childbirth, mothers can feel confused, overwhelmed and trying to pass it off as the “baby blues” discounts their symptoms. The nightmares about childbirth or harming their newborn baby can lead to insomnia.
Some birth trauma sufferers have found relief through counseling, group therapy and medication. Mothers have experimented with various anti-depressants before finding one that worked. Mothers who have made it through say that birth trauma almost took over and destroyed their lives.
If you are a mother, or know a mother, who feels they have experienced birth trauma at the hands of birth personnel, contact a birth trauma attorney who be able to help.
