Many people have heard of postpartum depression and understand the risk that new mothers face of suffering from it. Likewise, parents who have endured a traumatic birth that led to a birth injury will also enter parenthood with emotional issues to overcome. However, unlike postpartum depression that often fades away once hormone levels return to normal, parents of injured children may often suffer long-term emotional and mental health effects.
Because birth injuries can affect children physically, mentally, and emotionally, parents of those children are also emotionally affected by their disabilities, sometimes for life. However, parents of these children often feel embarrassed or ashamed that they are having a hard time dealing with the new reality of their child’s birth injury. Unfortunately, many people bury their thoughts and feelings and don’t deal with them in a healthy way, which can lead to emotional problems. This is why parents should talk with a counselor or seek some type of mental health therapy following a birth injury.
Mental Health Support After a Birth Trauma
Parents of those injured at birth need to understand that the trauma of the experience can have life-long psychological effects. Some of the problems that can occur following a birth injury include:
- Connecting with your baby. A birth injury can cause you so much sadness that it can get in the way of bonding with your baby.
- Marital problems. Sometimes difficult times can make relationships harder. You might not like how your spouse is responding to the birth injury or you may feel that your spouse doesn’t understand your response.
- Stress. Birth injuries can lead to surgeries, longer hospital stays, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and medication – which all cost money. Unfortunately, this traumatic experience also causes financial problems which can lead to emotional stress. This is why a medical malpractice lawsuit should be considered.
For all of these reasons and more, it is wise to seek professional counseling or psychotherapy to deal with your emotions surrounding the birth injury. But make sure to find a counselor or therapist who has experience in counseling people going through similar traumas. And if you want more information about pursuing a medical malpractice claim, request a copy of our book, Do I Have a Case? A Patient’s Guide to Virginia Medical Negligence Law.
