Over time, I have identified Four main types of birth trauma:
Baby trauma — any unwanted intervention such as: induction, epidural, forceps/vacuum delivery, separation from mother, rough handling, bright lights, eye drops, blood drawing, C-section/anaesthesia, Dad not present, circumcision…
Mother trauma — difficult/painful pregnancy/labor, partner not present, being discounted/ignored by caregiver(s), baby taken away, hospital transfer, unwanted interventions, c-section, epidural/drug side-effects, episiotomy, difficulty breastfeeding, lack of support throughout pregnancy/birth/postpartum…
Father/Partner/Witness/Attendant trauma — Feeling helpless/powerless, ignored, witness/accomplice to violence, own birth trauma triggered…
Cultural trauma — Sharing horror stories with pregnant women, TV portrayals of scary births, Uncaring caregivers (birth trauma victims become unwitting perpetrators), energy field of hospitals…