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Birth Trauma Association

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Birth Trauma Association

The Birth Trauma Association (BTA) is a UK charity established in 2004 to support parents suffering from Post Natal Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or birth trauma. We are not trained counsellors or therapists or medical professionals. We are parents who wish to support other parents who have suffered as a result of a difficult birth experience.

After a traumatic birth, a woman, or indeed a birthing partner, may develop symptoms of Post Natal PTSD (PN PTSD). This is the name for a normal set of reactions to a traumatic, scary or bad experience. Those suffering from PN PTSD symptoms may avoid triggers which remind them of the birth. For example, this could include missing hospital appointments or watching a birth scene on TV. The re-experiencing of the event with flashbacks along with anxiety and fear are beyond the sufferer’s control. They are simply the mind’s way of trying to make sense of an extremely scary experience and are not a sign of individual ‘weakness’ or inability to cope.

Symptoms to watch out for could include:

Re-experiencing the trauma through images, dreams and flashbacks of the event
Difficulty remembering parts of the birth- Numbed emotions
Problems bonding with the baby- Depressive or irritable, angry mood swings
Difficulty concentrating- Problems with breastfeeding- Feelings of inadequacy
Fear that previous events will recur with similar, if not worse, outcomes
Fear of becoming pregnant again.

If you’re having trouble getting over your birth experience, please remember, you are not alone. The BTA is there to offer support and advice to anyone who needs help coming to terms with a traumatic birth experience. You should also talk to your GP, midwife or health visitor about how you feel. Awareness of this problem varies enormously, so if you don’t feel that your health professional understands, please show them our leaflet (available on our website) or contact us for more advice.