Please verify your email address to receive email notifications.

Enter your email address

We have sent you a verification email. Please check your inbox and spam folder.

Unable to send verification, please refresh and try again later.

  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How do I overcome PTSD, anxiety and depression from a traumatic birth?

    Related Topics
    Anxiety Postnatal Depression Premature Birth
    I have been suffering anxiety, depression, flashbacks and low self esteem since I almost died with my last pregnancy (18 months ago). I have 2 children (1 and 4 years old) and life is sometimes overwhelming as I try to overcome my issues while trying to be the best mum I can to my children. When I was in hospital with preeclampsia, I got extremely sick, which resulted in my daughter being induced a month early and then I ended up in intensive care. The most traumatic part for me was that hospital staff didn't realise I had then developed severe post natal pre-eclampsia and they made mistakes, mistreated me, didn't listen to my symptoms and convinced me it was just anxiety. But while I did have anxiety in hospital with all the stress of what was happening with my baby and I, I also knew I was getting worse physically. In the end I almost had a seizure and ended up on magnesium sulphate. I later developed post natal depression and was hospitalized. How do I overcome all this?
    • 1 answer
    • Dr Lucinda Smith
    answer this question

  • Find a professional to answer your question

  • Dr Lucinda Smith

    Psychiatrist

    Dr Lucinda Smith is a perinatal psychiatrist, Co Founder and Director of GLOW Perinatal Emotional Health and Wellbeing Clinic Berwick, who has worked in perinatal … View Profile

    It sounds like you have a very difficult time since your last preganncy.  A truamatic pregancy  / delivery with medical complications is one of the risk factors for developing post natal depression and or anxiety.

    A good place to start would be visiting your GP to talk through your symptoms and difficulties more thoroughly. A referral could then be made to a psychologist or psychiatrist experienced in the perinatal field to assist in overcoming your difficulties.  This would most likely include talking therapy and reviewing the need for medication.

    Reply to this post
     · 
    Report
answer this question

You must be a Health Professional to answer this question. Log in or Sign up .

You may also like these related questions

Related Fact Sheets
Related Questions

Empowering Australians to make better health choices