2001 Conference

TABS - Trauma And Birth Stress

Trauma And Birth Stress, Tabs, PO Box 18 002, Glen Innes, Auckland, New Zealand
ptsdtabs@ihug.co.nz; www.tabs.org.nz

Welcome to our Tabs presentation, Trauma and Birth Stress is a voluntary community support group.

My name is Sue Watson and I am one of the 4 mothers who put Tabs together 3 years ago in Auckland via the letters page of the NZ Treasures magazine. When 2 of our core members wrote to make contact with other mothers who had had and also recovered from PTSD and wanting to form a support group.

We suffered trauma during our pregnancy, labour, childbirth and/or the early postnatal period, were (mis)diagnosed with PND, eventually became unwell, and somehow stumbled on to the fact, that our nightmares, anxieties and/or panic attacks were NOT depression and sought, got help and recovered (largely) from our PTSD.

Today I am the face of 118 mothers who have mostly come to our group, by chance, and as a result of reading the PTSD and Childbirth article in the New Zealand magazine Little Treasures in August 2000.

WHO IS TABS?

We are a group of volunteers who every 8-10 days receives, either a phone call, an email or a letter from a mother who is suffering trauma symptoms and somehow come across our group and made contact to get some help.

We offer a small amount of phone support, we listen to their stories and send them a copy of our Handbook and a copy of our most recent newsletter. Also for Auckland people we offer our monthly 4th Thursday Support format.

We hear their pain, their anger, their shame, their deep sense of failure and their current lack of control on their lives, as they now being emotionally bound and caught by their trauma symptoms.

They come to us, usually 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 months after the birth and in one case 15 years following her traumatic pregnancy.

Second focus: Educate health professionals that trauma symptoms need to be taken notice of; to listen to mothers who come to them, look beyond PND.

WHAT IS PTSD?

• Normal reaction to a traumatic event which involves threat of death or serious injury to self or others
• Response of fear, helpessness, horror
• Persistent re-experiencing, flashbacks
• Avoidance of reminders, numbing
• Persistent increased arousal
• More likely to occur, if there is previous unresolved trauma;
• New trauma can trigger memories of old trauma, (physical or sexual abuse)

IN OUR CASE, OUR PTSD AROSE FROM OUR PREGNANCY AND OR CHILDBIRTH OR DUE TO EVENTS IN THE EARLY POST NATAL PERIOD.

COMMON RISK FACTORS

• Old Trauma
• Induction
• Multi handling
• Staff related problems
• Feelings of loss of control
• Not being believed or listened to
• Prolonged latent phase - demoralisation
• True Obstetric emergencies
• SCBU, NICU
• Unmet need to DEBRIEF
• Severe Post Natal Anaemia
• Forceps, suturing without adequate analgesia
• Invasive procedures without explanations or consent
• Managed labour
• Poor pain relief
• Shift changes
• Unnecessary trauma
• Impersonal treatment
• Loss of dignity eg no coverings
• Emergency C, shoulder dystocia,
• PPH
• Poor Post Natal Care
• Post Natal problems

UNRESOLVED TRAUMA LEADS TO DEPRESSION

WHAT HAPPENED?

Trauma was from:

• Pregnancy 26%
• Birth 96%
• Postnatal events 52%

HOW DID A SUPPORT GROUP HELP ?

Being listened to by someone who knew what it was like.

Not feeling alone or different.

Information & discussion helped planning for next birth.

MOTHERS SUPPORTING MOTHERS