Dr. Rotem Kahalon is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at Bar-Ilan University and the head of the Social Psychology of Health and Well-Being Lab. As a social psychologist, she investigates how subtle, often unnoticeable, social psychological mechanisms perpetuate inequality and contribute to disparities in health, mental health, and well-being.
Article2 min read
Childbirth-Related PTSD Is Real. Here’s How To Get Support After a Traumatic Birth
- Rotem Kahalon PhD
- Jonathan E Handelzalts PhD
- Oct 1, 2025
- 2
Every woman goes into labor hoping for a smooth, joyful, and relatively painless birth. Unfortunately, complications can always arise, and some may endure a deeply traumatic experience that lingers in the form of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).
Up to 30% of women describe their childbirth experience as traumatic; nearly half of them will go on to develop symptoms of PTSD, and some will develop childbirth-related PTSD. Spotting the early signs and knowing how to get support after a traumatic birth can help prevent long-term mental health effects. This is important as childbirth-related PTSD was found to be under-recognized when compared to other trauma events.
Can Women Get PTSD From Childbirth?
PTSD can be triggered by childbirth or any event perceived as life-threatening or deeply distressing. While many risk factors have been identified, complications, emergency interventions, feeling unsupported by medical staff, and extreme pain are all potential contributors to childbirth-related PTSD.
Symptoms of Postpartum PTSD
- Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks
- Aversion to talking about the birth or visiting medical settings
- Feeling constantly on edge or irritable
- Emotional numbness or detachment, especially from the baby
- Trouble sleeping or nightmares
- Intense feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame about what happened
- Otherwise, unexplained physical symptoms like headaches, nausea, or heart palpitations
How to Get Support for Childbirth-Related Trauma
- Communicate with loved ones. Tell your partner, family, and friends how you’re feeling. Don’t feel like you need to hide the fact that you’re struggling.
- Start mental health treatment immediately. Seek support as soon as possible after a traumatic birth—even if you think you feel okay. A therapist specializing in trauma can help you process your experience and develop coping strategies.
- Connect with support groups. Speaking to other moms who have had similar experiences can be incredibly validating. There are many groups specifically for women with birth trauma, meeting both online and in person.
- Advocate for better care. If you felt unheard or dismissed during delivery, seeking a more supportive provider for continued postpartum care can help you feel safer and reduce anxiety.
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