Let’s Talk PTSD Symptoms in Postpartum

Coming out of Maternal Mental Health Week, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge how traumas, or intense stress, during the birth and postpartum period can impact a person, long-term.

When most people think of trauma, they often think of ‘Big T’ traumas, such as experiencing death/loss or abuse.

Did you know that there are also ‘little t’ traumas? 

Trauma is defined as a negative emotional response to an event, and it can be subjective.

Cheryl Beck, a pioneer in researching childbirth trauma, says trauma is in the “eye of the beholder”. 

Beck’s research has shown that ‘little t’ traumas in childbirth can look like:

• Perception of lack of caring (e.g., felt abandoned, stripped of dignity, lack of support and reassurance)

• Poor communication (e.g., felt invisible, not heard, not important)

• Feeling of powerlessness (e.g., betrayal of trust, didn’t feel protect by staff, lack of control)

Up to 45% of birth parents report their birth as traumatic. 

4% of birth parents, and even up to 18.5% of those in high risk groups (e.g., current depression in the birth parent, history of mental illness, and infant complications), develop post-traumatic stress disorder.

There are four different sub-categories of PTSD symtpoms with their own specific characteristics (listed in the carousel above):

1) Intrusion

-Recurring feelings and ruminating thoughts (there may have been a lot of dark thoughts during those hard moments in postpartum)

-Distressing memories (your baby may have been crying and you felt you didn’t know how to meet their needs)

-Flashbacks (thinking back to those sleepless nights or hours of crying)

-Feeling violated while breastfeeding (this is a common feeling for people who have experienced abuse)

2) Avoidance

-Distancing from partner (especially if not wanting to risk getting pregnant)

-Impaired parent-infant bonding (when we are in fight-or-flight, or even freeze-or-fawn, it is difficult to connect with people, including our baby)

-Emotional numbing (such as shutting down, scrolling social media, watching TV, eating)

-Avoidance of further pregnancies (the thought of re-experiencing the stressors feels like too much)

3) Negativity in Cognitions and Moods

-Guilt (e.g., if you have an insufficient milk supply or are unable to breastfeed)

-Depression/hopelessness (e.g., feeling like they aren’t a good parent)

-Negative thoughts (e.g., about self, relationship with baby, events that occurred)

-Persistent and distorted sense of blame on self or others (i.e., “It’s my fault my baby isn’t gaining weight”)

4) Arousal

-Sleep disturbance (the body is in a fight-or-flight state, and it is difficult to relax and rest)

-Poor concentration (your body/brain is in hyper-arousal and your ‘lid is flipped’)

-Aggression (anger is a normal emotion, and we have it for a reason)

-Hyper-vigilance (afraid something ‘bad’ will happen, but unsure what that is)

If you experienced, or are currently experiencing, these symptoms, please know…

You are not alone. You are not to blame. With help, you will be well.

Call or text Postpartum Support International HelpLine at 800-944-4773. You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.

Download the Connect by PSI App.

Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262.

In a crisis situation, call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.