Many pregnant women have an idea of how they want their birth experiences to go. They make birth plans and hope they will get to stick to those plans when the day to deliver arrives. Unfortunately, many women in Oregon and elsewhere end up with birth experiences that leave them emotionally or physically scarred.
What factors contribute to a traumatic birth?
Labor and delivery is different for everyone. How a mother feels after the experience can be affected by a number of factors. Some of those factors include:
- The type of delivery
- If pain medications were used
- How long the labor and delivery process took
- If medical interventions were needed
There is no comparing a vaginal delivery versus a cesarean section — both can be difficult and have complications. Some women want pain medications, but those medications sometimes fail. Prolonged labor can be just as traumatic as one that happens quickly. Finally, if medical interventions are needed due to complications arising, it can be frightening and result in added physical and mental pain and suffering.
Birth trauma and PTSD
It is not uncommon for women who have experienced a traumatic birth to develop post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD can cause them severe emotional distress and depression. It can cause relationship issues. It can affect the mother-child bond. The effects on one’s life can be significant if it goes untreated.
Getting help
Mothers in Oregon who have experienced a traumatic birth can seek help overcoming the trauma. They are not alone, and it is possible to recover. If medical negligence contributed to the trauma and any emotional or physical injuries resulting from labor and delivery, they may also be entitled to seek compensation for their losses. An experienced birth injury attorney can review the details of one’s case and help one pursue relief through legal means if appropriate.