How you can Help Your Spouse Cope with the Trauma of Childbirth

The process of becoming a mother involves a certain amount of psychological strain for a pregnant woman. In fact, for some women, childbirth can be as traumatic as life-threatening events such as a natural disaster or a war. During pregnancy, it is important for the to-be mother’s family members and close ones to support her as required.

During childbirth, women are likely to experience a range of emotions, which may include:

• Guilt


• Anxiety and fear that can manifest as intense flashbacks and nightmares


• Helplessness or a feeling of loss of control or feeling incomplete


• Severe depression


• Anger, irritability


• Obsessive talking about their traumatic experiences


• Ambivalent feelings toward the baby


• Hyper-vigilance and hyper-sensitivity to any perceived injustice


• Other symptoms such as drug and alcohol abuse, phobias, fainting spells, eating disorders, suicidal tendencies


• It should be noted that such responses are natural reactions to a scary event, and are not signs of weakness. However, husbands can provide the necessary support to enable their spouses to cope with birth trauma.

During and before childbirth

After childbirth