Birth Trauma
I feel deeply for anyone who has faced a medical crisis during pregnancy, labor, or delivery. It's impossible to anticipate the unexpected. We make plans and hold onto hopes, but a medical trauma or loss related to childbirth shatters those expectations. The grief and loss of what was envisioned – a normal pregnancy, a vaginal birth, the health of ourselves or our babies – can be overwhelming.
NICU
Our parental instinct to protect our children begins even before we've fully bonded with them. When a child is in the ICU, that instinct kicks into high gear, leaving us feeling terrified and helpless. The overwhelming anxiety and fear are something no one can truly prepare for. A birth experience marked by grief, loss, trauma, and shattered expectations can profoundly impact a parent's postpartum experience and emotional well-being
Postpartum Depression, Anxiety, OCD & PTSD
The pre- and postpartum period can bring a range of emotional experiences, from the common "baby blues" to more serious conditions like depression, anxiety, or unwanted thoughts. Postpartum mental health challenges aren't limited to those who've experienced a birth crisis. The simple act of adjusting to parenthood, coupled with sleep deprivation, shifting identities, and navigating partnership dynamics, can significantly complicate the postpartum experience. A non-birth parent can also experience postpartum mental health.
TRANSITION HOME
The grief, anxiety, and sadness surrounding childbirth can continue or even emerge after the baby arrives home . Sometimes, the birth outcomes lead to long-term health challenges such as developmental delays or extended hospitalizations. These experiences can leave parents with lasting feelings of PTSD, grief, loss, loneliness, anxiety, and depression.