Why Birth Trauma Deserves to Be Talked About — Especially This Week

The third Sunday in July begins Birth Trauma Awareness Week, a time to shed light on something many parents live through but few people talk about.

We often picture birth as a joyful celebration—but for many, the experience is confusing, overwhelming, or even terrifying. If you’ve walked away from childbirth with emotional wounds that don’t seem to heal, you may have experienced birth trauma. And you’re far from alone.

According to a large-scale review, up to 1 in 3 women perceive their childbirth experience as traumatic (Olde et al., 2006). Another study found that about 4–9% of women go on to develop full symptoms of PTSD, with as many as 18.5% reporting significant posttraumatic stress symptoms postpartum (Yildiz et al., 2017). These aren’t small numbers—they represent a widespread, often hidden struggle.

When Birth Feels Like Survival Instead of Celebration

Not every difficult birth becomes trauma. But for many, the way things happened can leave a lasting emotional imprint.

Birth trauma isn’t defined by the type of birth you had—it’s defined by how you experienced it. A medically “routine” delivery can feel traumatic if you felt helpless, unheard, unsafe, or afraid. On the other hand, even high-risk births don’t always lead to trauma if support and communication were strong. It’s personal, and no one gets to define your experience for you.

Some common contributors to birth trauma include:

• Emergency C-section or unplanned interventions

• Feeling dismissed, silenced, or not fully informed

• Actual endangerment or fear for your life or your baby’s

• Medical complications such as early labor or postpartum hemorrhaging

• NICU stays

• A history of trauma, including sexual violence or medical trauma

Sometimes, trauma isn’t from one moment—it’s the accumulation of too much, too fast, with too little support.

Signs You Might Be Struggling With PTSD After Birth

The early weeks postpartum are tough for anyone—but if you’re noticing certain symptoms that linger or intensify, it’s worth noticing.

Signs of postpartum PTSD may include:

• Flashbacks or intrusive thoughts about the birth

• Avoiding anything that reminds you of the experience (hospitals, certain people, photos)

• Feeling numb or detached from your emotions or your baby

• Heightened anxiety, hypervigilance, or a sense of doom

• Nightmares or trouble sleeping

• Irritability or anger that feels out of character

• Difficulty concentrating, bonding, or trusting your body again

PTSD after childbirth often goes undiagnosed because it can look a lot like postpartum depression or anxiety—but its roots are different, and trauma-informed care can make a big difference.

Why Naming the Experience Matters

When something traumatic happens, but no one acknowledges it, the silence can be just as damaging. Many people who’ve experienced birth trauma struggle with self-blame: “Other people had it worse.” “The doctors said everything went fine.” “I shouldn’t still be thinking about it.”

But pain doesn’t need permission to exist. Naming birth trauma isn’t about dramatizing your experience—it’s about honoring it. It’s a crucial first step toward healing.

You Deserve to Heal

If any of this resonates with you, please know: you’re not alone, you’re not weak, and you’re not being “too sensitive.” You are responding like any human would after something overwhelming.

Healing is possible—and it’s okay if that process includes therapy, community, or even just telling your story out loud for the first time. There is no expiration date on when you’re “allowed” to process a birth that didn’t feel safe.

Let’s Start the Conversation

Birth Trauma Awareness Month is an invitation: to share stories, reduce stigma, and let more people know that not all birth experiences feel empowering—and that healing is available when they don’t.

If your birth felt traumatic, you don’t have to carry it in silence. What happened to you matters. And you deserve the support to move through it—on your terms, in your time.

References

• Olde, E., van der Hart, O., Kleber, R., & van Son, M. (2006). Posttraumatic stress following childbirth: A review. Clinical Psychology Review, 26(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2005.07.002

• Yildiz, P. D., Ayers, S., & Phillips, L. (2017). The prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder in pregnancy and after birth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 208, 634–645. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2016.10.009