In this blog, women and their families share their experience of birth trauma. These stories are shared in their own voice and may be distressing to some readers.
Please take care to ensure you are ready to read these stories today and engage in the self-care and support you need to process what these stories bring up for you.
We tell these stories because many people find them helpful and it informs us all of the wide range of birth experiences families undergo.
“When there is one way, one story, learning is stunted. When we have more stories, we have more from which to learn. We see over and over again how choices, options, more stories, help us all.”
You can submit your story by emailing ABTA.
After a traumatic birth during the height of Melbourne’s covid lockdown, I struggled to breastfeed for reasons I was not expecting. Leading up to the birth, I armed myself with education, names of local lactation consultants, and joined breastfeeding support groups.
In addition to her physical injuries, Emma suffered PTSD after a forceps birth. Here, she shares her journey towards healing, utilising trauma therapy.
Navigating the first birthday after birth trauma can be challenging, with unpleasant memories rising up to trigger feelings of grief and symptoms of PTSD.
ABTA Ambassador, Dane Muller, offers a dad’s advice for coping with birth trauma. He encourages birthing partners that have experienced the fear of losing their baby or partner to seek support.
Trigger Warning: This birth story involves birth related psychological trauma, inverted uterus, haemorrhage and PTSD. If you are triggered by these topics you may wish to
Safer births and better healing.
PO Box 403
Buderim QLD 4556
0412 445 770
support@birthtrauma.org.au
The information on this website is not meant to replace advice provided by a health professional.
Copyright © 2025. All Rights Reserved.
BTA is proud to work with the National Relay Service and Translation and Interpreting Service (TIS).
Artwork kindly provided by Hayley Wills
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0412 445 770
support@birthtrauma.org.au
The information on this website is not meant to replace advice provided by a health professional.
Copyright © 2020. All Rights Reserved.
