Birth Trauma

Between 30-45% of birthing parents described their birth as traumatic.

Your experience doesn’t need a diagnosis to deserve support.

Not every difficult birth gets talked about, especially when the baby is healthy. But a birth that felt frightening, painful, chaotic, or out of your control can leave a lasting mark, whether that shows up as flashbacks, anxiety around medical appointments, trouble sleeping, or a nagging sense that something was taken from you. These traumas could include pregnancy complications, unplanned C-sections, baby going to NICU, feelings of powerlessness, or a lack of support during delivery. Your experience doesn't have to have been “life-threatening” for your reaction to be valid. We can work through what happened at your pace.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is birth trauma?

Birth trauma refers to a distressing emotional response to a birth experience that felt frightening, disappointing, painful, out of control, or unsafe either physically or emotionally. For some, this develops into postpartum PTSD, with symptoms like flashbacks, avoidance, and heightened anxiety that persist well after delivery. It's not defined by what happened on paper, it's defined by how it affected you.

Does my birth have to have been "dangerous" to count as traumatic?

No. Trauma is about your experience of an event, not just the medical outcome. Feeling unheard, out of control, or unsafe during birth (even with a healthy outcome) can still be traumatic.

Is it normal to feel this way even though my baby is healthy?

Yes. It's common to feel guilty for struggling when "everything turned out fine," but your nervous system doesn't measure trauma by outcome. You're allowed to grieve the experience even while being grateful for your baby.

Can therapy help with flashbacks or fear around future pregnancies?

Yes. Trauma-focused approaches, such as EMDR, can reduce the intensity and frequency of flashbacks, ease anxiety tied to medical settings, and help you feel more prepared and less afraid if you're considering another pregnancy or birth.