What is Birth Trauma and How Can it Impact You Postnatally?

Let’s start with this: Just because your baby is safe and healthy doesn’t mean you’re okay.

Too often, new parents are told to "just move on" after a difficult birth. But what happened to you matters. And how you felt during birth? That matters even more.

Whether your birth was complicated, fast, frightening, or even looked “perfect” on paper but left you feeling anxious, panicked or unheard — that’s still valid.

You are not being dramatic. You're not failing to "bounce back." You might be experiencing birth trauma — and you're not alone.

So... What is birth trauma?

Birth trauma is when birth leaves you feeling overwhelmed, scared, helpless or distressed — either at the time or afterwards.

You might:

• Replay moments of your birth over and over

• Feel tearful, angry or on edge without knowing why

• Avoid talking about your birth

• Have trouble bonding or trusting your instincts

• Dread the idea of future pregnancies

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Birth trauma doesn’t need to meet medical criteria to matter. If your experience is affecting your emotions, your nervous system, or your day-to-day life — that’s enough.

Why does it happen?

Trauma isn’t about what happened on paper. It’s about how it made you feel — in your body and in your brain.

Common triggers include:

• Feeling powerless or not in control

• Being spoken over or not listened to

• Emergency interventions or fast labours

• Being separated from your baby

• Lack of support, information or consent

• Pain or panic that felt overwhelming

• Baby needing SCBU/NICU

• Previous losses or trauma being triggered

  
  

Sometimes even a birth that looks “calm” from the outside can leave emotional bruises.

How can it affect the postnatal period?

When trauma isn’t acknowledged or supported, it can make the postnatal period so much harder than it needs to be.

You might notice:

• Low mood or anxiety

• Intrusive thoughts

• Panic or flashbacks

• Physical symptoms like tension, fatigue or sleep struggles

• Guilt, shame or feeling like you “should be over it”

• Struggling to feel joy in early motherhood

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It can also impact your relationship, your self-confidence, and how you feel about future pregnancies or births.

There is support available

You do not have to keep this to yourself. At Beyond the Bump, we offer:

• 1:1 Birth Trauma Resolution Therapy (BTR) – gentle, neuroscience-based support to help you process what happened without having to relive it all

• 1:1 or Partner Birth Debrief - A one off session on your own or with your birth partner to share you birth experience and start to process how you feel.

• A free video: Take Control of Your Birth – ideal for anyone feeling anxious about giving birth again

• In-person and online antenatal courses that are inclusive, empowering, and trauma-informed

• The Birth & Baby Academy, which includes a whole section on birth trauma, recovery, and planning a better experience next time

  
  

Birth trauma is more common than most people realise. If something still doesn’t sit right after your birth, that’s a sign to seek support — not a sign you’ve done anything wrong.

You are not too sensitive. You are not weak. You are absolutely worthy of healing, joy, and feeling like yourself again.

🔗 Useful Links

• 🎥 Free video: Take Control of Your Birth

• 📚 The Birth & Baby Academy – Online antenatal course with a full trauma-informed section

• 🤍 Book 1:1 Birth Trauma Resolution Therapy