10 Signs You May Be Experiencing Birth Trauma

Hey, Shameless Mamas - Let’s Talk about Maternal Mental Health

The birth of a child is often portrayed as one of the happiest moments in a mother’s life. But for many women, the reality is far more complex. If your birth experience left you feeling overwhelmed, scared, or emotionally unsettled, you might be dealing with birth trauma.

Birth trauma can occur for a variety of reasons, from medical complications to feeling ignored or dismissed by healthcare providers during labor. The lingering effects can manifest in ways that may surprise you, including symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childbirth.

As a Birth Trauma Therapist, I specialize in helping new mothers work through their experience and process any trauma that may be preventing them from fully engaging in the experience of new motherhood. 

Here are 10 signs you may be experiencing birth trauma according to a birth trauma therapist:

1. Intrusive Memories of the Birth

Do you find yourself replaying specific moments from your labor over and over again? Whether it’s a medical intervention, the tone of a nurse’s voice, or the panic you felt in the delivery room, these intrusive memories can make it hard to move forward.

2. Avoidance of Anything Related to Birth

Do you find that you actively steer clear of reminders of the birthing process, including conversations, medical appointments, baby-related items, or even places associated with childbirth? Avoidance is a hallmark symptom of PTSD from labor.

3. Hypervigilance or Heightened Anxiety

Do you feel constantly on edge, worrying excessively about your baby or your own health? Hypervigilance after childbirth often signals unresolved trauma.

4. Emotional Numbness

Birth trauma doesn’t always look like sadness or panic. For some, it manifests as feeling disconnected or numb—not only from the birth experience but also from your baby, partner, or loved ones.

5. Flashbacks or Nightmares

You might experience flashbacks during the day or vivid nightmares about your labor. These can leave you feeling as though you’re reliving the event, making sleep or daily functioning difficult.

6. Feelings of Guilt or Shame

If you’re struggling with thoughts like, "I failed at giving birth" or "I should have done things differently," you’re not alone. Birth trauma often leaves mothers grappling with misplaced guilt. A birth trauma therapist can help you reframe these feelings and see your strength.

7. Physical Symptoms Without a Medical Cause

Headaches, stomach pain, or tension in your body that doesn’t have a clear medical explanation can sometimes be tied to unresolved trauma. Your body remembers what your mind may try to suppress.

8. Difficulty Bonding with Your Baby

If you’re finding it hard to feel connected to your baby, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad mother. Trauma can create emotional barriers, and working through them in birth trauma therapy can help strengthen your bond.

9. Irritability or Angry Outbursts

Many women are surprised to find anger is part of their post-birth experience. Whether it’s directed at your partner, healthcare providers, or even yourself, this could be a sign of unprocessed trauma.

10. Fear of Future Pregnancies

Are you dreading the idea of ever going through childbirth again? A traumatic birth experience can create a lasting fear of future pregnancies or deliveries, even when they’re years away.

Healing from Birth Trauma or PTSD from Labor

If you recognize yourself in these signs, you are not alone. Birth trauma is more common than most people realize, and healing is possible. Working with a birth trauma therapist can help you process your experience, address any symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder after childbirth, and reclaim your sense of self.

Common Types of Birth Trauma Therapy

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing):
EMDR is a trauma-focused therapy that helps process distressing memories, reducing their emotional intensity. For mothers experiencing PTSD from labor, EMDR can help reframe the birth experience, making it feel less overwhelming.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
This approach focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns that contribute to distress. CBT can be effective for managing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder after childbirth.

At Shameless Mama Wellness, we specialize in birth trauma therapy to support mothers navigating these difficult emotions. Through compassionate care and evidence-based approaches, we can help you make sense of your experience and find peace.

You deserve to feel whole again. Let’s take the first step together.

Ready to start your healing journey? Contact Shameless Mama Wellness today to schedule a free consultation.

With Warmth and in Solidarity,
Marilyn

I provide a safe haven to discuss the thoughts you keep hidden.

As a Postpartum Therapist in California, I offer many services utilizing evidence-based treatments. Some services at Shameless Mama Wellness include treatment for postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety, birth trauma therapy, fertility counseling, therapy for miscarriage and loss, pregnancy therapy and treatment for NICU PTSD.

Online therapy available to new moms in California.