Traumas that occur around the time of conception, pregnancy and postpartum often have unexpected and unwanted effects. Your baby’s first birthday can be fraught with thoughts and feelings that bring back memories of trauma, even as you celebrate your child.

If you have a history of abuse (physical or sexual) or trauma, the physical aspects of pregnancy and childbirth, the physical intrusiveness of fertility treatments and obstetric care - as well as the physical intimacy of nursing and caring for a newborn- can be triggering. Learn how birth trauma can change the way you feel about your body and how to get help.

When the birth of your child doesn’t happen according to plan, what's supposed to be the happiest day of your life can lead to disappointment or crisis, and in some cases even traumatic stress. Birth trauma results from experiencing some part of childbirth as scary, frightening, distressing or life threatening.