The Impact of Medical Trauma on Perinatal and Postpartum Mental Health
As a new or expecting mother, you may face several different medical traumas in the first year after having your baby. From pregnancy and birth complications to NICU stays and breastfeeding challenges, but also heartbreaking losses such as pregnancy loss, and stillbirth. All of these events can have a tremendous impact on your mental health, leaving you feeling powerless and unsupported. It can lead to a difficult time bonding with your baby, physical pain, as well as mental and emotional strain.
It doesn't always have to be what you have experienced physically either, it can be how you are spoken to or treated by the medical team. They may not have the best bedside manner, and that can take a toll on your mental health as well. It can make you feel anxious because if they're not going to take your concerns seriously, who will? Medical trauma can make an impact on your postpartum mental health which is already facing a lot of changes.
The Whole First Year Post Baby
Your body and mind have gone through a lot of changes in the first year post-baby. From pregnancy and labor to postpartum life with a newborn, there are a lot of transitions and new experiences to adapt to. All the while these transitions are happening, your mind and body are experiencing them in real-time. Your body and mind are experiencing the new life you’re bringing into this world, but also the medical traumas you may have gone through to do so.
Not to mention, your body and mind remember the events you have experienced and can remember the pain, fear, and anxiety associated with them. You may have experienced invasive procedures such as a C-section or emergency surgery. Or, you went through a long-intensive labor and it may have left you in pain and feeling like you have no control. Medical trauma is your body and mind’s reminder that these events have happened and can start your postpartum journey with a feeling of guilt, resentment, and even depression.
The Impact on Your Identity and Relationships
You might have already started to experience the changes in your identity since having a baby. You’re no longer just the independent working professional or full-time student, or even feeling like your pre-baby self. You are now a mom and all the changes that come with it, including medical trauma. This transition can be challenging as you're still trying to figure out who you are in all of this change. Then you're also faced with the medical trauma aspect that can bring up a whole other set of emotions.
These emotions can be overwhelming. You may experience guilt, feeling like there was something more you could have done to prevent the medical trauma, or even feeling resentful for what happened. You love and cherish your new baby, but you are now left with pain and physical issues post-baby. It can cause a strain in bonding with your baby, or feel as if you are having a difficult time merging who you were before this new identity. Because a lot about you has changed since having a baby, the medical trauma can sometimes add an extra layer of difficulty.
Your Relationship With Your Partner
The medical trauma and the postpartum period as a whole can also affect your relationship with your partner. You both love and care for each other, but there is no denying the strain it can put on your relationship. After all, when you are needing to depend on someone else for assistance, it can be hard to feel like you still have your independence.
Maybe you knew there would be some degree of strain because you're introducing a newborn into your life, but medical trauma made it more complex. You may be feeling resentful towards your partner because you’re in pain, and they can't do anything to help relieve it or take it away. There can also be other stressors that make you feel overwhelmed such as lack of sleep, physical exhaustion, hormones, and the guilt that comes with it. You just feel impacted by having a baby and the medical trauma that came with it.
The Relationship Between You and Your Baby
After enduring medical trauma, it can feel like you're struggling to bond with your baby. Maybe you had plans for an at-home birth but ended up needing to have a C-section or medical interventions. Or, you had a NICU stay and it was difficult to bond with your baby with them being in the hospital for so long. All of these experiences can have a lasting impact on your relationship with your baby, and it can feel like you are struggling to find the connection that you imagined.
However, even though you feel a disconnect, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have a bond with your baby. It may take time to find that connection and bond again. This can mean spending extra time with your baby or finding ways to have skin-to-skin contact in a way that is comfortable and safe for you both. You both went through an experience together that changed your lives and it’s natural to need extra time to process and heal from the trauma.
A Path Towards Healing
Although you may experience a lot of guilt, resentment, and other difficult emotions due to medical trauma in the first year post-baby, there are ways to start healing and finding peace. The most important part is that it helps you move forward and live a healthy life with your baby. In a way that works best for you.
Find Support From Women's Support Groups
One of the best ways you can start to heal and work through your emotions is by getting support from other women who have gone through a similar experience. These experiences may not be identical but can still be very similar. Joining one of the pregnancy and postpartum support groups in Washington, DC can give you the opportunity to talk about your experiences. It also allows you to get advice from other women who understand what you're going through.
In women’s support groups, you can talk in a non-judgmental space without feeling judged or shamed. You can discuss any concerns and ask for resources from other women who have been through similar experiences. There, you will also have access to a medical trauma therapist who will be there to guide, help and provide support.
Talk to a Medical Trauma Therapist
If you’re experiencing severe medical trauma, it may be beneficial for you to speak with a medical trauma therapist in Washington, DC. They can provide you with the tools and resources to help process your experiences and learn how to cope with the trauma. For example, at my practice Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I specialize in working with women to help them process medical trauma and understand the power of postpartum care.
A beneficial part of therapy for medical trauma in Washington, DC is having access to therapy approaches that work specifically with trauma. Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is one of the approaches that are extremely beneficial in decreasing symptoms of trauma. CPT is helpful for women with a history of medical trauma, birth trauma, and complex trauma. In therapy, you can work with your therapist to explore the issues and gain insight into them, understand them better, and find ways to cope with the residual pain and emotions.
Focus on Self-Care
It's okay to not be okay and to reach out for support when you need it. But, while seeking help from medical trauma therapists or joining a support group is essential, it's also important to find ways that bring you comfort and peace. This could be spending time outdoors, going on walks, reading books, or simply taking a few moments to be still and meditate. Finding time for yourself can help you manage stress and emotions, build resilience, and develop coping strategies. If you read this and thought to yourself “I could use some self-care”, that is totally okay. Take the time for yourself and make sure your well-being is a priority.
Begin Healing From Medical Trauma With a Medical Trauma Therapist in Washington, DC
You are so strong and resilient, and you have the power to heal. Living the best life with your baby is possible and the best way to start is by getting help from a medical trauma therapist in Washington, DC. Your struggles and trauma are real, and with the help of a therapist, you can start moving forward in your healing journey. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I specialize in helping women through medical trauma, birth trauma, and complex trauma to start healing. Together we will walk through the pain and grief you are feeling and find a path toward healing. Follow the steps below to get started on your journey to healing.
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Fill out our convenient online mental health services contact form.
Let’s start the journey toward healing together!
Other Mental Health Services Offered at Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women
You are a new mother and you deserve to enjoy the postpartum period with your baby. Having a therapist for women in Washington, DC, or New York City to help you feel validated, heard, and understood can be beneficial. Hi, I'm Kelsey Bates! I specialize in women’s health, which means I offer several mental health services geared toward helping women cope with medical trauma. At Greater Washington DC and New York City CBT Counseling for Women, I offer an array of therapeutic services for anxiety, depression, and PTSD in both Individual and Group counseling settings. I also specialize in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy in addition to CBT.