Perinatal trauma describes the feeling of finding one or several parts of your pre-
pregnancy, pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period subjectively so fearful or
overwhelming that it then leads to an impact on your mental health.
We know that every year in the UK at least 30% of women and birthing people
report that their maternity experience was traumatic and a smaller group go onto
develop a clinical Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/PTSD, (around 3-8 %).
This means that nearly 200,000 women per year start their journey of parenting
feeling emotionally affected and traumatised which is such a difficult start to
parenting.
The causes of trauma
Trauma can present immediately or over time and each person will have their own
mix of feelings and symptoms.
It is really important to know that we cannot judge what may pr may not have felt
traumatic to someone.
So it does not have to be a life threatening event, the cause might be a very long or
very quick labour, feeling dismissed, feeling alone, racist care, a lack of consent,
feeling your pain was minimised, trauma around how you were able to feed or
there may have been a physical birth injury with a tear.
Really importantly we know that trauma often stems from people involved in our
care i.e. how we are made to feel seen, safe and supported. When this is missing, so
if we feel there is no kindness, that we are not being included or talked to, then
can often be a cause of trauma.
Women often can often quote phrases that were said to them years later that they
can never forget, language can harm deeply.
How might childbirth related trauma present?
There are four groups of trauma symptoms people might feel and you may have a
mix of any or all of these.
So we look for the feeling of replaying the birth experience constantly and this
memories feel intrusive and overwhelming, there might also be nightmares or a
feeling of memories physically such as pain in a caesarean scar.
We also look for avoiding things that feel too similar or trigger memories of the
trauma, this might be not wanting to go near the hospital, not wanting to have sex
in case you get pregnant again or avoiding pregnant friends or baby groups incase
anyone asks about your birth experience.
After trauma there is also often a sense of threat and needing to be on alert, this
might feel like jumpy, angry or not able to focus or relax. Often this might include
your baby and checking the baby at night or letting anyone else hold the baby.
Trauma can also cause a negative view of the world with a loss of trust and feelings
of guilt and shame. This is really common for women who can feel their body
failed or they feel they are not parenting well enough.
Anyone can be affected by trauma but we know that certain groups of women are
more vulnerable this includes those with a history of sexual assault, neurodivergent
women, LGBTQIA+ women and those with prior perinatal losses.
Why does trauma matter?
Perinatal trauma is so important because each person deserves to be heard, cared
for and helped, and also because it often has a ripple impact and can impact a
person’s sense of their self, their sexual life, thinking about having another
pregnancy can feel more challenging, and it can impact social relationships and
even work.
If you had a birth that was not as you expected or has left you with any of these
feelings, then please try to speak to someone you trust, a GP, midwife or health
visitor, or a friend or family member. If you can’t say it out loud, then you can
always write down your birth story to take along with you.
You can use this document to help you think about what symptoms you might be
experiencing:
https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/I-need-help-
womenbirthing-people.pdf
You can self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies, and they will prioritise new parents.
Medications can also be used in the treatment of trauma and/or PTSD, and your
GP can help discuss the risks and benefits of any medication.
It’s always about knowing the range of choices and finding the mix that works for
you, so this might include social media supports such as Make Birth Better or PANDAS, exercise, physiotherapy or somatic work such as closing the bones, couple therapy, parent-infant therapy or talking to peers. You can ask for a maternity birth reflections meeting where you can ask questions
and review your notes. This is offered in virtually all NHS trusts and is free. It’s
often helpful to go in with a list of questions you want to ask.
You can also make a complaint about your care if you wish via your hospital PALS
team.
Perinatal trauma is common, it is never your fault and how you feel is valid.
There are lots of places to seek support and care where your story will be heard
and sources of support can be found. You deserve this care.
References
Childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder: definition, risk factors,
pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
Horsch A, Garthus-Niegel S, Ayers S, Chandra P, Hartmann K, Vaisbuch E, Lalor
J. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024 Mar;230(3S):S1116-S1127.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.09.089.
Risk factors for childbirth-related post-traumatic stress symptoms in mothers and
coparents: A prospective longitudinal study.
Rattaz V, Offredi V, Horsch A.J Affect Disord. 2026 Jul 1;404:121510.
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2026.121510.
Birth Trauma and Postpartum Childbirth-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A
Narrative Review of Pathology, Risk Factors, and Practice Recommendations.
Rauh Garrido C, Okunbor J, Boettcher LB, Kuller JA, Dotters-Katz S, Kimmel
MC.
Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2026 Apr 1;81(4):177-185.
doi: 10.1097/OGX.0000000000001493.