Navigating Pregnancy After Birth Trauma

Going through pregnancy or birth trauma is something no mother ever wants to experience. When you get pregnant, you should be able to feel the excitement and joy that comes from growing a life inside you. Unfortunately, things don’t always work that way. There are so many “ifs” that can happen throughout pregnancy, up until the moment of birth. Even women who have perfectly healthy babies can experience trauma while giving birth. In fact, up to 45% of new mothers have reported experiencing it. 

However, going through birth trauma doesn’t mean you have to give up on growing your family. Navigating pregnancy again might be a little scary or even overwhelming. But there are things you can do to work through it in healthy, effective ways. Let’s look at what you can do to feel good about having another baby after experiencing birth trauma.

Acknowledge Your Trauma

Trauma is a very real thing, and even if you’re somehow able to ignore your feelings about it, for the most part, those feelings can come back with a vengeance when you’re triggered. If you haven’t fully acknowledged or processed your birth trauma, you will likely have difficulty navigating a new pregnancy. While it might seem “safer” to try to ignore your trauma or push your feelings down, that often makes it worse.

Instead of trying to move forward on your own, consider getting whatever help you might need to process your trauma. That doesn’t mean those feelings ever go away. You won’t forget about your traumatic birth experience. But you’ll feel more in control, and those intrusive thoughts won’t continue to take over throughout your pregnancy.

Shift Your Perspective

After working through your trauma, you’ll also have an easier time changing your perspective on your current pregnancy. Shifting your mindset about being pregnant and giving birth will help to release you from the cycle of fear and pain. When you have a positive mindset about your pregnancy, you’ll regain some of it. Shifting your mindset will also allow you to feel a bit more in control. Trauma tends to take those feelings away from you, which can perpetuate fear.

Surround Yourself With the Right People

It’s essential to have a strong support system throughout any pregnancy. However, it’s even more crucial after you’ve experienced birth trauma. Your support system starts with family members and friends. Lean on your partner. They’re likely the only other person who can really understand what you’ve been through. Maybe they didn’t go through the traumatic experience themselves, but they likely witnessed it first-hand.

In addition to getting support from loved ones, don’t hesitate to take charge of putting together a birthing team. You should trust your doctors and nurses and get to know them as much as possible ahead of time. You might feel more comfortable using a doula or birthing coach, too. They can help you throughout the pregnancy and be with you during labor, so you’re less likely to fall victim to the “what ifs” that might invade your thoughts.

Know What You Want Postpartum

As important as having a birthing plan, it’s just as crucial to know what you want and need postpartum. Plan ahead to ensure you get enough sleep and proper nutrition to practice self-care. That might require leaning on your family, friends, or even your doula for help; giving yourself extra time to heal mentally and physically will allow you to be more present and care for your newborn how you truly want to.

Birth trauma can wreak havoc on your thoughts. It can heavily influence future pregnancies, but it doesn’t mean you have to live in fear. Keep these ideas in mind to navigate your next pregnancy, and you might find that you’re even able to enjoy aspects of it along the way. Schedule your free 30-minute consultation today!