“Tips to Recover After a Traumatic Birth” is a collaborative post.
Having a child can be an incredible experience. It’s unlike anything you can imagine as you bring life into the world, seeing the beautiful little person you created. While it is so rewarding, you may also experience trauma to your body during childbirth.
While unfortunate, this is normal. About 1 in 3 women report they felt traumatised by childbirth. Simply knowing that you are not alone in your feelings is a great first step toward healing, and below, we’ll discuss four tips to help you recover after a traumatic birth.
Recovering After a Traumatic Birth
Not all births go entirely according to plan, and even if they do, you may still experience complications. Here’s what you can do to help prioritise your healing following a traumatic birth.
1. Follow Medical Orders
You have to allow your body time to heal, so as difficult as it may be, you must follow your doctor’s orders. Whether you delivered naturally or had a c-section, you may have received baby delivery injuries, including stitches. Do your best to care for them, including keeping the area clean with fresh dressings.
Rest and avoid heavy lifting. You shouldn’t be lifting anything heavier than your baby. Ask your partner or family for help if you need to move anything or do manual labor. You don’t want to tear your stitches accidentally. Listen to your body. Take medication to help manage your pain. Call your doctor if you feel sharp pains or if anything doesn’t feel right.
You may not be aware, but traumatic births and birth complications can qualify as medical malpractice. Thousands of cases occur throughout the United States each year, and some states have a higher risk of medical malpractice than others. California has the highest number of claims, while Illinois ranks among the highest payouts victims received for malpractice cases, including in cases located in Chicago.
If you are the victim of medical malpractice, connect with a local attorney to understand your rights. A medical malpractice attorney in Chicago can help you if you were injured during childbirth due to surgical errors, anaesthesia issues, birth injuries, and more.
You may have a case against the doctor and hospital. While this can add stress during the recovery period, seeking justice can help you recover and process your traumatic experience. It can be tempting to push yourself to do more when you’re still healing but resist the urge. You may cause more harm than good and return to the hospital.
2. Talk To Someone
You don’t have to go through it alone, so talk to someone about how you feel. You can discuss your emotions with your partner, friends, a local support group, mental health professional, therapist, and more. It doesn’t matter who you talk to, just that you share what you are experiencing with someone.
Some women experience extreme feelings of guilt and sadness about their childbirth. These emotions may not be rational, and someone who has not experienced something similar may not understand. Look for people who can listen with empathy and push you to seek additional help if needed.
Women’s bodies undergo a lot of changes after childbirth, including hormonal changes. These can be exacerbated by stress, exhaustion, and pain. Talking to someone can help lighten the load.
3. Practise Self Care
Caring for a newborn is a full-time job, but be sure to find moments of self-care throughout it all. Even taking 10 minutes to shower daily can help you feel like yourself again. You can also practise journaling, meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and more. Make it a habit to read a book five minutes before bed or walk outside daily.
When your doctor gives you medical clearance, start pelvic floor exercises to strengthen your body and promote your continued recovery.
These moments can help bring peace during the postpartum period. It’s easy to put aside one’s needs when caring for everyone else in the household, but eventually, you’ll become exhausted and unable to care for anyone.
4. Give Yourself Grace
Whether you’re a first-time parent or the mum to multiple littles, give yourself grace. You are learning to adjust to your new normal. A traumatic birth experience can compound this adjustment period. You have to remember that you are doing your best.
Prioritise bonding with your baby over doing that next load of laundry. You can’t get back the early days of your baby’s life, so give yourself the space to soak it all in. Treat yourself like you would treat your best friend, so that means being patient, asking for help, and being realistic about what you can – and should – accomplish.
Final thoughts
Childbirth takes a toll on a woman’s body, and you don’t have to be a super mum after a traumatic birth. Take it slow and allow yourself the time and space to heal at your own pace. Keep open dialogue with your doctors, and seek mental health treatment if you are struggling with postpartum depression.
You are not alone, so do what you can to prioritise yourself and your healing. Do whatever you have to do to be the best mom to your new little you can be – you’ve got this, mama!
