Information and support in one place.
PTSD is an anxiety disorder. It may be caused by stressful, frightening or distressing events and can develop immediately following an event or many weeks, months or years later.
It is important to get help and advice for PTSD. Symptoms include:
- flashbacks to the experience
- nightmares about the experience
- repetitive and distressing images or sensations
- physical sensations such as pain, sweating, feeling sick (nausea) or trembling
- constant negative thoughts about the experience
- trying to feel nothing at all (emotional numbing) and trying to distract yourself to avoid thinking about what happened
- avoiding places, people or other things that remind you of the traumatic event
- watching out for danger or threats and being easily startled
- anxiety
- irritability
- difficulty concentrating
- angry outbursts
- sleeping problems
- headaches
- stomach pain
- difficulty to bonding with the baby.
Support organisations and charities
The Birth Trauma Association supports both women and partners who are experiencing symptoms of psychological distress as the result of a traumatic birth. This includes both those who have PTSD and those who have trauma symptoms but don’t meet the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis. Its principal support is through a Facebook group and peer support over email ([email protected]) and phone (0203 621 6338).
Support organisations and charities
FLY Mama is a trauma informed online platform which supports you physically and emotionally following perinatal trauma and loss.
We have carefully designed our pre-recorded bundles to allow you to access professional and safe support that you can trust at your fingertips.
We provide Women’s Health education talks and clinically led Pilates classes led by our specialist Physiotherapist aswell as nervous system education and regulation talks and trauma informed Yoga and Breathwork classes from our somatic trauma specialist.
We also provide you with Matrescence coaching and journaling classes from our motherhood coach and finally, we are building a supportive online community where you can gain support from women and birthing people who have been through similar experiences to you.
We believe that you deserve safe and expert advise that is sensitive to your needs and understanding of your situation and we are honoured to provide this for you.
Support organisations and charities
Make Birth Better is a unique collective of parents and professionals on a mission to end suffering from birth trauma.
They exist to make birth better for all, including the road before and the journey beyond. Their work aims to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of birth trauma through clinically-led training, support and campaigning.
Follow them on Instagram here and Facebook here.
Or contact them [email protected] with any questions.
Support organisations and charities
Mind.
Mind, the mental health charity.
When you're living with a mental health problem, or supporting someone who is, having access to the right information is vital.
Visit our website or contact our InfoLine at 0300 123 3393
Email: [email protected]
Our lines are open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
(except for bank holidays).
Legal advice.
If the worst occurs, like any complaint or claim, it is vital to seek advice as soon as possible. If suitable, you may be invited to speak with your treating doctors to discuss the events that led to the death and to provide you with an opportunity to ask questions. On some occasions it is not immediately clear what the cause of death was, and a post-mortem examination may be advised. A post-mortem is a type of autopsy and examination performed on the baby to determine the cause of death.
This is an important step to take in terms of registering the death and on some occasions involving genetic conditions, can be used to monitor and treat future pregnancies. In some cases, the hospital may wish to conduct an investigation into the circumstances around your child’s death. As part of this process, they may look at your medical records, speak with you and your partner and the staff involved in your care. If this takes place you are entitled to a copy of any investigation report, any comments obtained from the staff and a set of your medical records.
This should be conducted with the upmost respect and sympathy to you and your family and you should be referred to the patient liaison services or complaint team for support. Consideration should be made as to whether a referral for counselling or further treatment is required.
