18/07/2023
🟡 Birth Trauma Awareness Week 🟡
What is birth trauma?
There is no one definition of a "traumatic birth". What matters is how YOU felt- during the experience, and in the days, months and years afterwards.
You know your body, your own heart, mind and your baby best. If the birth felt in any way distressing for you, for any reason, you may be experiencing birth trauma. No-one else can tell you ‘how’ your birth was, when you’re the one who lived through that experience.
The way you feel about your birth experience can deeply affect your emotional wellbeing and mental health, attachment and bonding with your baby, and how you feel about being a parent.
Signs you may be experiencing birth trauma include:
🔺 Distress or anxiety when you think about your birth experience
🔺 Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts about your birth
🔺 Nightmares
🔺 Hyper-vigilance about your baby's health and safety
🔺 Difficulty sleeping
🔺 General feelings of panic or anxiety, being "on edge".
If you think you might be experiencing birth trauma, or have complicated feelings about your birth experience, PANDA is here to listen.
PANDA National Helpline (Monday to Saturday) 1300 726 306 ✨
Find out more https://loom.ly/cXGb4II
