Are you struggling to cope following a traumatic maternity experience?
Local support
Lancashire and South Cumbria Reproductive Trauma Service
In the UK, perinatal mental health difficulties (problems which occur during pregnancy or in the first year following the birth of a child) affect up to one in five women and one in ten men during pregnancy and the first year after having a baby.
Many women have experienced birth trauma or loss or have a fear of childbirth. Early detection, referral and support can have lasting, positive outcomes and improved wellbeing.
The Lancashire and South Cumbria Reproductive Trauma Service has been set up to offer a variety of support and therapies to those who have experienced:
- birth trauma
- fear of childbirth (tokophobia)
- perinatal loss including:
- early miscarriage
- recurrent miscarriage
- stillbirth
- neonatal death
- termination of pregnancy for any reason
- parent infant separation at birth
Together After Loss - Lancashire Mind
Emotional support for anyone who has experienced miscarriage and baby loss, with free one-to-one therapy and peer support.
Visit the Together After Loss website for more information.
Online support
Birth Trauma Association
Birth trauma is a term to describe symptoms of distress you might experience after having gone through, or witnessed, a traumatic birth. In some cases, these symptoms can be enough for a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Research shows that about 4-5% of women experience PTSD after birth – about 25,000-30,000 a year in the UK. PTSD has four groups of symptoms:
- re-imagining the trauma - you may have nightmares or flashbacks to the birth
- avoidance - you avoid any reminder of the trauma. For example, you may avoid going to the hospital where you gave birth or watching programmes such as Call the Midwife
- arousal - you feel as if you’re on high alert at the time, and frightened that something bad is going to happen
- negative cognition - your mood is low, and you may have feelings of guilt and self-blame, and you may have difficulty remembering parts of the trauma
Some people with PTSD also experience dissociation – a feeling of being emotionally numb or detached from reality.
A much bigger group of women experience some trauma symptoms, such as intense anxiety or flashbacks, but not enough for a PTSD diagnosis. We use “birth trauma” for all these cases.
It’s very common for women who have had a traumatic birth to find it hard to bond with their baby, who can serve as a reminder of the traumatic birth. We find that, for most women, even if they don’t feel a connection in the early stages, the bond develops over time. The chances are that, even if you don’t feel the rush of love you expected, you are still doing a good job of taking care of your baby. But you might find it helps to talk to others who have had a similar experience, or to seek professional help.
The Birth Trauma Association can provide peer support, advice on how to seek professional help, birth stories and support for fathers and non-birthing mothers.