WHAT IS POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER?
The terms Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSS) are used to name a range of symptoms you may develop in response to experiencing a traumatic event which is outside of your normal human experience. It is often a delayed response. The defining characteristic of a traumatic event is its capacity to provoke fear, hopelessness or horror in response to threat, injury or death.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET A POST NATAL PTSD?
Every traumatic event during which a person is feeling threatened and responded to that threat with fear or helplessness can lead to PTSD. Childbirth may be that event too. Research has suggested that over 10.000 cases of Post Natal PTSD arise in UK each year. Risk factors for Post Natal PTSD include: lengthy labour or short and very painful labour; induction; poor pain relief; feelings of loss of control; traumatic or emergency deliveries; impersonal treatment or problems with staff’s attitudes; not being listened to; lack of information or explanation; lack of privacy and dignity; baby’s stay in SCBU/NICU; poor post natal care; previous trauma.
WHEN DO THE SYMPTOMS APPEAR?
PTSD symptoms may start straight after childbirth or may appear after months. The symptoms may persist for a long time and can result in other problems, like depression. Unfortunately a lot of women are misdiagnosed and may be prescribed medicines for Post Natal Depression which will do little or nothing to help their situation. However, it is important to remember that depression can go hand in hand with Post Natal PTSD, so not everyone is misdiagnosed.
SYMPTOMS
– Flashbacks
– Nightmares
– Panic attacks
– Numbed emotions
– Sleeping difficulties
– Problems with concentration
– Irritability or anger
– Feeling of failure to interact with baby
– Persistent pains (persistent, vague pelvic pain)
– Having little confidence in your own body
– Avoidance of sex
CAN FATHERS BE AFFECTED?
There is growing number of fathers who suffers Post Natal PTSD as a result of childbirth. Being present during labour can be very disturbing for a man – the reasons may be the amount of blood, fear of death of the partner and/or child, being asked to leave the room without explanation for long periods.
HOW TO RECOVER FROM TRAUMATIC BIRTH?
If your experience of birth was not like you have hoped, and you have issues remaining – there is support available.
Don’t just hope that the feelings will go away, or assume that they are not important
– Talk to your partner
– Talk to GP, Midwife, Health Visitor, Counsellor, family or friends
– Read and discuss your labour notes
– Use a debriefing service
– Take care of yourself
REMEMBER, YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME!
USEFUL ORGANISATIONS:
- The Association for Post Natal Illness, Tel. 020 73860868, www.apni.org
- British Trauma Association, www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
- British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), Tel. 0161 705 4304, www.babcp.com
- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), Tel. 01455 883 300, www.bacp.co.uk
- Fatherhood Institute, www.fatherhoodinstitute.org
- NCT, helpline 0300 330 0700, www.nct.org.uk
- UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), Tel. 020 7014 9955, www.psychotherapy.org.uk
USEFUL LINKS:
- British Trauma Association, www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
- www.babycentre.co.uk
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/posttraumaticstressdisorder.html
- Anxiety UK, www.anxietyuk.org.uk
- www.netmums.com
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
- J. Laurence Reynolds, Post-traumatic stress disorder after childbirth: the phenomenon of traumatic birth, at www.cmaj.ca/content/156/6/83/full.pdf
- Subjective childbirth experiences determine trauma risk, at www.sciencenordic.com/subjective-childbirth-experiences-determine-trauma-risk
- Hard labour, at www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2003/may/28/familyandrelationships.health
- www.babycentre.co.uk/baby/youafterthebirth/recoverdifficultbirth/
- Marsha M. Cohen, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder after pregnancy, labour and delivery, at www.online.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/154099904323016473
- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/posttraumaticstressdisorder.html
- www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk