Can You Have PTSD From Childbirth? Signs and Diagnosis

June 18, 2025

Authored by: Hayley Snelling, B.S. Psychology

Edited by: Emma Loker, B.S

For many new mothers, childbirth isn’t just physically demanding – it’s emotionally draining, too. For some moms, this eases with time, and support from others helps the highs of having a baby outweigh the difficulties. But this isn’t the case for all new moms.

For some, the panic doesn’t fade away when they hold their newborn in their arms. They have nightmares about giving birth, feel overwhelmed, and try to struggle on as their mental well-being continues to unravel after the trauma of childbirth.

Many people don’t realize that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) isn’t just something that comes from war or violent events. It can be triggered by something as life-changing as childbirth. Childbirth trauma and PTSD are real mental health issues, affecting between 5% and 20% of new moms every year.¹

If your experience of giving birth was difficult and you find yourself feeling disconnected, anxious, or haunted by what you went through, you’re not alone. This page will explore:

What PTSD after childbirth is
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of PTSD after childbirth
PTSD treatment options
Coping strategies for new moms
How to find professional mental health support for PTSD

Understanding PTSD From Childbirth

So, you may be wondering whether you may have PTSD from giving birth, but you’re not really sure. No worries – we’ve got you. Let’s look at what PTSD is, and why it can happen after childbirth.

What Is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder, more commonly known as PTSD, is a psychological response that happens when you’ve experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. When you think of PTSD, you might conjure up images of violence, war, abuse, or natural disasters. And while these are all common examples of life-threatening situations that may trigger PTSD, there are other scenarios that can prove just as traumatic.

Here are some examples of less-known situations that can cause PTSD:

Childbirth (especially complicated births)
Serious medical diagnoses
Financial instability
Being betrayed in a relationship
Caregiver experiences
Harmful work environments

What Is Childbirth-Related Trauma and PTSD?

Having PTSD after a traumatic childbirth is known as childbirth-related trauma, CB-PTSD, or postpartum (after-birth) PTSD. But when up to 50% of mothers report that their birthing experience was traumatic, what is classed as a traumatic childbirth?²

Generally speaking, it’s when your experience of an event directly related to childbirth causes overwhelming distressing emotions and reactions that then lead to negative impacts on your health and well-being. This includes the threat of death or injury, either to yourself or your child.

So, you may have had a complication like a vaginal tear, too much bleeding, an emergency c-section, or your baby may have needed medical attention after birth, to name a few examples.

What Causes Postpartum PTSD?

Giving birth is a very intense experience: Physically, mentally, and emotionally. According to the Policy Centre for Maternal Mental Health, nearly 30% of women experience complications during birth.¹ These complications can increase the risk of developing postpartum PTSD.

Here are some of the specific contributing risk factors:

A history of trauma or PTSD
Unresolved mental health issues
Feeling powerless/having a lack of support or reassurance during the delivery
Preterm birth
Delivery complications
Unplanned caesarean deliveries
Medical interventions
Emergency c-sections
Medical complications for mother or baby
Mom feels like her life or that of her child is threatened
Pregnancy or infant loss

When so many new moms experience complications during labor, it’s not so surprising that they may experience PTSD from childbirth. If you’ve had an upsetting birthing experience and think you may have PTSD, keep reading because we are covering the signs and symptoms of postpartum PTSD next.

Symptoms of PTSD in New Mothers

It’s reassuring to know that perinatal PTSD can be treated very effectively. But first, it’s important to know whether you may have it. Here are the signs of PTSD after childbirth to watch out for:³

Flashbacks to the traumatic event
Nightmares
Irritability
Sleeping problems
Hypervigilance
Anxiety and panic attacks
Feeling a sense of detachment, like things aren’t real
Avoiding aftercare following birth trauma
Avoiding reminders linked to the event, including thoughts, feelings, people, and places

If you recognize some of these signs, you may want to speak to a mental health professional or your doctor about PTSD from childbirth. Postpartum mental health disorders are common in new moms, with up to one in five women affected by a perinatal or postpartum mood and anxiety disorder.⁴

What if I Don’t Get Treatment?

Unfortunately, unresolved trauma doesn’t magically disappear on its own, no matter how much we bury our feelings or try to ignore them. Those emotions will sit there just beneath the surface, affecting your life every day.

90% of women with CB-PTSD also experience postpartum depressive symptoms.¹ Unresolved trauma can also leave you living in a perpetual state of fear, bring on other physical and emotional issues, harm your relationships, and halt your career.⁵ Also, your ability to bond with your new baby could be affected, especially if your child is a trigger or reminder of traumatic childbirth.⁶ Childbirth PTSD can silently and invisibly take over your life if left untreated, so it’s worth acting if you suspect it’s something you may be struggling with.

Before we move on to treatments, here’s a little reminder: Receiving a PTSD diagnosis after delivery doesn’t mean you have done anything wrong; there’s nothing to be ashamed of. You’ve been through a traumatic experience, like many women, and are coping in the best way that you can. Knowing the clues to watch for means that you can take action and get the support and treatment that you need.

Treatment for PTSD After Childbirth

Let’s not beat around the bush: PTSD feels terrifying. That is why it’s critical to reach out and receive treatment. And when PTSD from childbirth can be treated so successfully, there’s no need to live with the constant dread and fear that you currently feel. Let’s examine some of the best evidence-based treatments for postpartum PTSD.

Therapy for PTSD From Childbirth

Psychotherapy is a highly effective way of treating PTSD. Evidence suggests that several trauma-based therapies are safe and reduce symptoms of PTSD. Specifically, these are trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).^2,7

Trauma-focused therapy allows you to process and heal from your traumatic experiences in a safe and supportive space with an expert therapist. You learn coping strategies to manage triggers and stressors and can find symptom relief.

CBT is a very practical and focused therapy aimed at challenging and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to allow you to cope better with your condition. You will often be given ‘homework’ to do in between sessions. For instance, practicing coping techniques such as deep breathing or relaxation exercises.

EMDR uses eye movement techniques to help you reprocess and manage distressing memories in a safe environment. It is a structured type of therapy that can reduce emotional distress and improve your overall well-being.

Medication

Medication is usually considered when psychotherapy doesn’t bring the improvements you hoped for, if your symptoms are severe, or if you have other mental health disorders.

You may be prescribed an antidepressant, such as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), to ease symptoms of anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts.² You might also be prescribed anti-anxiety or sleeping medications to help treat your symptoms.³

Coping With PTSD From Childbirth

Having a baby is an important, life-changing event. If you feel low or overwhelmed, don’t think you have to bottle up your feelings or stamp them down. Becoming a parent brings so many emotions, and PTSD from childbirth can add to any struggles you are already having, and bring new ones into the mix.

Here are some ideas you can try to help you cope with postpartum PTSD at home:

Don’t Blame Yourself

Some people think that if they aren’t feeling pure ecstasy and joy over their newborn then they have failed in some way. Whatever happened, it wasn’t your fault. Giving birth is different for every person: Some deliveries are more complicated or traumatic than others, and not for any wrongdoing on your part or anyone else’s. You have done the best you could for you and your baby. That’s all that matters.

Write It Down

Journaling your experiences, thoughts, and feelings can be extremely therapeutic and cathartic. It’s also been found that expressive writing can significantly improve symptoms of PTSD.⁸

Self-Care

As a new parent, you probably have a lot on your plate. It may seem hard to look after your needs as well as your newborn’s, but it’s really important for your mental well-being. Eating a healthy balanced diet, getting rest or sleep when your baby sleeps, and doing some physical activity like walking, can all improve your mental health.⁹

Join a Support Group

Support groups can be a tremendous source of emotional support for postpartum PTSD as you navigate being a new mom. You can be surrounded by people who really understand what you’ve been through and the challenges you’re facing. You may even find they share useful tips that have helped them through the process.

Talk to a Healthcare Professional

If you’re worried about how you are feeling, talk to your midwife, doctor, or a mental health professional. Don’t be afraid to tell them exactly how you feel. They will be able to help you find a way through this. Trained therapists, like the ones here at Mission Connection, can help you process your trauma and move forward in life with more ease.

Preventing PTSD After Childbirth

What if you haven’t given birth yet and want to avoid getting PTSD from childbirth? Well, research tells us that certain things can be done to prevent or minimize childbirth-related PTSD.

Steps can be taken during pregnancy to prevent traumatic childbirths as much as possible. For example, screening in advance for antenatal risk factors, and delivering trauma-informed care. Having good support during labor and birth is also critical for reducing the risk of birth trauma.¹⁰ What’s more, talking through the possible medical interventions that may happen while giving birth so that the mom knows in advance what might happen if there are complications.

Writing a birth plan is a way for a pregnant person to outline their preferences for labor and delivery, including preferences for pain management and interventions. They can help you feel more in control of what your delivery will be like, reduce anxiety about what will happen, inform your healthcare provider of your needs and preferences, and improve your childbirth experience.¹¹

Therapy very early on after delivery can also support trauma recovery after childbirth. For instance, having a session of therapy within 4 days of birth can be helpful. Brief, structured, trauma-focused therapies show the most improvements.²

Recovery is Possible

Having a baby isn’t always the picture-perfect scene you dreamed about. PTSD from childbirth is a possibility for many women, but remember that support and recovery are very real and within your reach. When it comes to your mental health, we can help you to reclaim the joy of being a new mom. At Mission Connection, we have a team of experts who will curate a treatment plan personalized to you and your challenges. From evidence-based therapies like CBT to medication management, support groups, resources, and 24/7 care, we can provide you and your family with the best possible support.

Explore our website to discover more about perinatal mental health, or reach out today to find out more about how we can help you.

References

Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health. (2025, March). Childbirth-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (CB-PTSD): A critical maternal health issue that must be addressed systemically. [Issue Brief] http://www.doi.org/10.69764/CBPT2025
Horsch, A., Garthus-Niegel, S., Ayers, S., Chandra, P., Hartmann, K., Vaisbuch, E., & Lalor, J. (2024). Childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder: definition, risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 230(3), S1116–S1127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2023.09.089
Postpartum Support International. (2025, March 18). About perinatal mental health. https://postpartum.net/perinatal-mental-health/
Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health. (2025, April 28). About maternal mental health disorders. https://policycentermmh.org/mmh-disorders/
Gupta, S. (2023, November 21). What is unresolved trauma? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/unresolved-trauma-symptoms-causes-diagnosis-and-treatment-6753365
Van Sieleghem, S., Danckaerts, M., Rieken, R., Okkerse, J. M. E., De Jonge, E., Bramer, W. M., & Berg, M. P. L. D. (2022). Childbirth related PTSD and its association with infant outcome: A systematic review. Early Human Development, 174, 105667. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2022.105667
Dekel, S., Papadakis, J. E., Quagliarini, B., Jagodnik, K. M., & Nandru, R. (2023). A Systematic Review of Interventions for Prevention and Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Following Childbirth. medRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.08.17.23294230
Sloan, D. M., Marx, B. P., Bovin, M. J., Feinstein, B. A., & Gallagher, M. W. (2012). Written exposure as an intervention for PTSD: A randomized clinical trial with motor vehicle accident survivors. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 50(10), 627–635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2012.07.001
Mental Health America. (2025, January 13). Taking Good care of Yourself. https://mhanational.org/resources/taking-good-care-of-yourself/
Dekel, S., Papadakis, J. E., Quagliarini, B., Pham, C. T., Pacheco-Barrios, K., Hughes, F., Jagodnik, K. M., & Nandru, R. (2023). Preventing posttraumatic stress disorder following childbirth: a systematic review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 230(6), 610-641.e14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2023.12.013
Ahmadpour, P., Moosavi, S., Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi, S., Jahanfar, S., & Mirghafourvand, M. (2022). Effect of implementing a birth plan on maternal and neonatal outcomes: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 22(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-05199-5