MOTHERING, CAREGIVING.

Reproductive Trauma.

"It is excruciatingly difficult to put that feeling of no longer being yourself into words," - Bessel Van Der Kolk.

More than a physical experience through which a baby is born, birth—and the broader reproductive trajectory—represents a unique window in a person's psychological, physiological, and emotional becoming.

There is a special physiology present throughout the cycles of reproduction that is intensified during birth, offering a profound opportunity for transformation and simultaneously it is a time of heightened vulnerability.

Thanks to emerging insights in neurophysiology, it is now recognised that a person’s experience of birth, and the wider reproductive continuum, can leave lasting traces. How birth unfolds can shape, for both mother and infant, the quality of their lived experiences throughout life.

Each birth is unique, existing upon a broad and overlapping spectrum, from ecstatic, empowering experiences at one end to births that may feel distressing or traumatic at the other, with many nuances in between. How birth feels to the birthing person, rather than solely what happens medically, may be a more significant predictor in whether the experience is later perceived as traumatic.

Alongside birth, other moments across the reproductive spectrum, such as difficulties with conception, pregnancy loss, or challenges during the newborn period, including feeding struggles or infant distress, can profoundly impact individuals and families. While this time can bring great joy, it can also surface deep challenges.

Once largely unrecognised as a potential time for trauma to exist, there is now a growing awareness of birth trauma and reproductive trauma, their reality, complexities and impact.

These impacts maybe far-reaching, from physical effects on the body to emotional and psychological repercussions that influence the everyday life and wellbeing of a carer and her/their family. A mothers health is the foundation on which the prosperity of society grows thus the effects of birth and reproductive trauma are rippled.

It is essential to honour birth and the broader reproductive sphere as the transformative experiences they are. In doing so, we create space for deeper respect for those who live and support these journeys, and we move toward a more inclusive, compassionate, and dignified approach to one of life’s most significant transitions.

Further support and resources for this time are suggested below.

By. H Coutts.

30. Jun. 2025.

References and Further Reading.

Make Birth Better. Support for birth/ reproductive trauma.

https://www.makebirthbetter.org/what-is-birth-trauma

Image via Lottie Hampson.