• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • RSS
  • YoutubeYoutube
  • Linkedin
  • Instagram
Dr Sarah Allen LogoDr Sarah Allen Logo 847 791-7722 Telephone and online sessions available
  • Home
  • About Sarah
  • Media Interviews
  • Anxiety & Depression
    • Anxiety Treatment
    • FREE Anxiety Book
    • Depression Treatment
    • Free Depression Book
    • Simple Steps To Improve Your Mood Workshop
  • Pregnancy Postpartum
    • Pregnancy & Postpartum Mood Disorders
    • Free Guide To Pregnancy & Postpartum Mood Issues
    • New Mom Workshop
    • Women’s Counseling
  • Eating & Weight Issues
  • Couples & Families
    • Relationship Coaching
    • Family Therapy
    • Parenting Coaching
  • Fees & FAQs
    • Initial Assessment Forms
    • Fees & Insurance Info
    • Telephone & Video Counseling
    • Appointment
      Rescheduling Policy
  • Blog
    • All Blogs
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Relationship Coaching
    • Eating & Weight Issues
    • Family Counseling
    • Parenting
    • Pregnancy and Postpartum
    • Teens
    • Women’s Issues
  • Contact & Directions
  • Contact
  • Directions

Anxiety

Birth Trauma – More Common Than You Think!

by Dr. Sarah Allen
separator

Traumatic childbirth is more common than you might think

 

We women in the West expect our childbirth experiences to be joyful, fulfilling, a little painful perhaps, but worth it because of the bundle of joy we get at the end. For many women, giving birth is a happy, or at least a straight-forward experience, but not for everyone. New Mothers Speak Out, a report commissioned by not-for-profit maternity care group Childbirth Connection, suggests that nearly one in 10 U.S. women who have given birth meet the formal criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from their childbirth experience. Other research has shown that up to 6% of postpartum women are experiencing PTSD.  It’s more common than you might expect!

In the mid-1990’s I worked as a psychologist in a large city hospital and part of my job involved working in the labor and delivery wards and also in the community with postpartum moms. I saw that the new moms I was counseling were sometimes experiencing either acute stress symptoms or more lasting PTSD symptoms. When I told my research supervisor that I wanted to do my dissertation on PTSD following traumatic childbirth she was adamant that only rape victims and soldiers get PTSD and I had to really fight to be able to do it. Luckily things have changed over the years and there has been growing recognition of childbirth as a possible trigger.

Research published in 2012¹ found that 7.8 percent of postpartum moms in their study exhibited partial post-trauma symptoms, and 3.4 percent exhibited symptoms of full-blown PTSD. Symptoms included flashbacks of the labor, the avoidance of discussion of the event, physical reactions such as heart palpitations during such discussions, and a reluctance to consider having another child. The lead author stated that they found that one of the most influential factors was pain management during delivery. “The less pain relief there was, the higher the woman’s chances of developing postpartum PTSD”. I also found in my study² that pain was a significant factor, along with past trauma and  a woman’s belief that her baby would be harmed. These factors led to the women feeling out of control of her self or the situation. The out of control feeling was maintained when support was sought from staff or partners but wasn’t given.

Childbirth can be accompanied by very real and justified fear of danger as well as a fear about the baby’s well-being, not just her own. But I, along with other researchers, have also found that it doesn’t actually matter if the doctors think the delivery was straight-forward and without incident. It’s the woman’s perception of danger that is important. One woman I worked with experienced PTSD triggered by the pain relief she had been given for her emergency c-section wearing off and she had felt the doctors cutting in to her skin. I am sure I would be equally traumatized by that! Another woman though saw that the monitor that she was linked up to was beeping and feared that her baby’s life was in danger. In fact it wasn’t. The staff were just too busy (and perceived as uncaring) to take the time to explain what was happening. She thought her baby was going to die though and a woman’s subjective experience is just as real a trigger for PTSD as an actual threat to life.

Fortunately, women are resilient and can recover from traumatic childbirth. Although spontaneous recovery is rare and problems can persist without treatment, there is a growing recognition among childbirth professionals that it can and does happen so at least professionals now know that they need to refer such women for treatment. However, many women who experience PTSD after childbirth are still told that they have postpartum depression (PPD) and although women can experience both PTSD and PPD at the same time, they don’t always go hand in hand. A proper diagnosis by a therapist who has experience working with both trauma and postpartum mood disorders is important for treatment to be effective.

Journal References & Resources:

1. Inbal Shlomi Polachek, Liat Huller Harari, Micha Baum,and Rael D. Strous. Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms: The Uninvited Birth Companion. IMAJ, VOL 14, June 2012. You can read details about this article on here.

2. Allen, S (1998). A Qualitative Analysis of the Process, Mediating Variables and Impact of Traumatic Childbirth. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology – Analysis of Traumatic Birth

To read an article on birth trauma criteria and risk factors that was published in The Expectant Mother’s Guide click here PTSD Following Traumatic Birth Experiences

Tabs (short for Trauma & Birth Stress) www.tabs.org.nz is a great organization that has a lot of information on research and personal stories about birth trauma. Other great resources are www.givingbirthwithconfidence.org and www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk.

If you would like to read more about how childbirth can influence your emotions please click below

When Your Childbirth Experience Wasn’t What You Hoped For

 

 

 

If you want to read more about maternal mental health download the FREE Guide To Pregnancy & Postpartum Stress, Anxiety & Depression. It is full of information about symptoms, different types of maternal mood disorders and advice about what to do to start feeling like yourself again.

THE GUIDE TO PREGNANCY & POSTPARTUM STRESS, ANXIETY & DEPRESSION ebookPREGNANCY / POSTPARTUM MOOD SCREENING TEST ebook

You've just been sent an email that contains a confirmation link. Check your SPAM/JUNK folder if you don't see it within a couple of minutes. In order to activate to receive your free booklet, click on the CONFIRM link and you will be sent a second email with the booklet. It may also be in your SPAM folder.

Dr. Sarah Allen CounselingDr. Sarah Allen has 20+ years experience as a psychologist helping women transition to being the mom they want to be. She is also the Director of the Postpartum Depression Alliance of IL, a non-profit offering info and support to pregnant and postpartum moms and their families.

In her Northbrook office, in the North Suburbs of Chicago, or via telephone or online counseling she offers the most convenient way for you to access support and help.

If you have questions after reading this article or the Guide To Pregnancy & Postpartum Stress, Anxiety & Depression or have any questions about how counseling can be useful to your particular circumstances please contact me at 847 791-7722 or on the form below.

    Dr. Allen's professional license only allows her to work with clients who live in IL & FL and unfortunately does not allow her to give personalized advice via email to people who are not her clients.

     

    If you found this information helpful please share!

    Two Simple Tips To Reduce Worry and Anxiety

    by Dr. Sarah Allen
    separator

    Anxiety and worrying can really take it’s toll on your life. It can effect your day, your concentration and sleep.

    Take a look at my video to learn two simple tips that really help reduce worry and anxiety.

    Here is a summary of the information contained in this nine minute video. I hope you will find it helpful!

    • How visualizing a problem makes your brain and body more confident when actually doing the things you were worrying about.
    • The brain science behind why this is an effective technique.
    • What cognitive therapy is and how we can feel more in control by studying and writing down your worries.
    • The difference between useful vs useless worrying.
    • How what we worry about rarely happens and when it does happen, you cope much better than you thought you would.

    To find out more about coping with anxiety and worrying  download my free booklet Simple Steps To Overcome Anxiety & Worrying  use the sign up form below the book.

    When clients first come in to see me, the main concerns that come up again and again are:

    1. How can I feel less stressed, angry and overwhelmed?
    2. What should I do if I feel panicky?
    3. How can I stop worrying about everything: my children, partner, friends, work, my “to do” list….

    So I put together a booklet with some strategies I am always giving to my clients to help them begin to feel less anxiety and to worry less.

    I hope that you will find it helpful too.

    Add your first name and email address in the box below and you will be sent the steps to download your FREE book.

    You've just been sent an email that contains a confirmation link. Check your SPAM/JUNK folder if you don't see it within a couple of minutes. In order to activate to receive your free booklet, click on the CONFIRM link and you will be sent a second email with the booklet. It may also be in your SPAM folder.

    Please let me know if  you have any questions after reading the booklet. Also, if you would like to read more, I have several blog posts on my blog about anxiety and other issues that can affect the way you feel.

    If after watching my video or reading the booklet you feel ready to start working on reducing your anxiety but need support, I can help you overcome worrying in one-on-one individual counseling sessions.

    In a supportive environment with a therapist who has over 20 years experience you can learn how to reduce worrying by:

    • Learning a variety of relaxation and breathing strategies which can help you reduce your overall levels of stress and help you face anxiety-provoking situations.
    • Learning how to distinguish between worries that require your attention and worries that are unnecessary.
    • Learning skills to manage anxious thoughts and to tackle fears that may have been holding you back.While all your worries won’t disappear, you will be given strategies to manage them better and tools to reduce the impact they have on your life.

    If you feel anxiety is standing in the way of you leading the life you want to, call me on 847 791-7722 or via the email form below.

      Dr. Allen's professional license only allows her to work with clients who live in IL & FL and unfortunately does not allow her to give personalized advice via email to people who are not her clients.

      3 Proven Tips To Reduce Worry

      by Dr. Sarah Allen

        So why do we worry about things? It is not a pleasant thing to do. Worries bother us! We can’t sleep or concentrate because of pessimistic thoughts going round and around in our head, but in a way, worries make sense as they pull us in to a false sense of feeling in control. […]

      Read the full article →

      Northbrook Therapist Helps Depression And Anxiety In Chicago Northshore

      by Dr. Sarah Allen

      I was really quite nervous the day that a reporter from the Northbrook Star came to interview me about my practice and the work I do in the community. I have talked with the press quite a bit in the past because of my role as spokesperson for the Postpartum Depression Alliance of IL and […]

      Read the full article →

      Primary Sidebar

      Footer

      As featured in...

      sponsors
      Contact SarahDr. Sarah Allen
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • RSS
      • YoutubeYoutube
      • Linkedin
      • Instagram

      COPYRIGHT © 2018 DR. SARAH ALLEN INC. 3400 DUNDEE ROAD, SUITE 245, NORTHBROOK, IL 60062 . TEL: (847) 791-7722 . FAX: (847) 562-9352 | FEES & INSURANCE | FORMS

      SERVING NORTHBROOK & CHICAGO NORTHSHORE COMMUNITIES INCL. ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, BUFFALO GROVE, DEERFIELD, DES PLAINES, EVANSTON, GLENCOE, GLENVIEW, HIGHLAND PARK, LAKE FOREST, LINCOLNSHIRE, MORTON GROVE, NORTHFIELD, RIVERWOODS, SKOKIE, VERNON HILLS, WHEELING, WILMETTE AND WINNETKA.