Birth trauma

Information and resources for birth and after birth (postpartum) trauma

What is birth trauma?

Birth trauma is when you have a traumatic experience during birth or after birth that can cause lasting distress, no matter how successful your delivery may have been. Birth trauma is determined by the individual. (Greenfield, 2016) (Goodwin, 2022)

Birth trauma can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), intense anxiety or depression, or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). It can affect anyone—you, your partner, or other family and friends who may have been with you during the birth.

Birth trauma can happen when there is:

  • Fear for the mother's life or newborn's life.
  • A feeling of not being in control during labor.
  • Lack of respect and compassion from medical professionals.
  • Emergency cesarean section (c-section).
  • A significant loss of blood during birth.
  • Preterm birth.
  • Perinatal loss.
  • Pelvic floor injuries.
  • Need for resuscitation.
  • Other obstetric emergencies or medical complications.*

*This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, since birth trauma is determined by the individual. 

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Signs of birth trauma:

  • Avoiding reminders or talking about the birth or traumatic event.
  • Experiencing the event as nightmares, flashbacks or intrusive thoughts.
  • Feeling anxious having panic attacks, depressed or irritable when thoughts of the event are brought up.
  • Having trouble with bowel or bladder habits with no physical abnormalities.
  • Pain or difficulty having sex.
  • Feeling like your heart is racing, sweating, shaking, stomach upset that is not connected to a medical condition.
  • Feeling that you are always on high alert worrying something bad will happen to you or your baby.
  • Trouble sleeping, unwanted distressing thoughts.
If you think you are experiencing childbirth trauma that is affecting your well being please reach out to your provider or a behavioral health specialist with training in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.

Find a mental health provider

Find help for depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum (after birth), including specialists in birth trauma.  The Utah Maternal Mental Health Referral Network is a directory of professionals and support groups with training in perinatal mental health (perinatal means during pregnancy and postpartum).  

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Find a support group

Finding others who have gone through similar events can help you find connection and validation for your experiences. There are various support groups lead by trained professionals, which are both online and in-person, local and national.

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More information and definitions of birth trauma

What is birth trauma? (Birth Trauma Association of Australia)

This website provides downloadable guides for parents and families on birth trauma topics such as "A guide to getting help" and others. The Birth Trauma Association of Australia is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting women, partners, and families after birth-related trauma.

Birth trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Huntsman Mental Health Institute)

Find information about birth trauma, perinatal mood disorders, and how to get treatment at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI). You can also find information on support groups if you've given birth or have a new baby in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Birth Trauma and Maternal Mental Health Fact Sheet (MMHLA)

Key facts on birth trauma and maternal mental health, quotes from women who have experienced birth trauma, key factors contributing to birth trauma, recommended reading, and where to learn more about birth trauma.

Produced by the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA).

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services may occasionally link to outside sources of information. DHHS and the state of Utah do not necessarily endorse the provider of the content and are not responsible for any content published on the external site.

Disclaimer: The material on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always talk to a doctor or other health care professional. Do not disregard, avoid, or delay obtaining medical or health-related advice from a health care professional because of something you may have read on this site. The use of any information provided on this site is to be used solely at your own risk.