WAC Counseling
WAC Counseling
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • What We Believe
  • Services
    • Women's Counseling
    • Family Counseling
    • Children's Counseling
    • Breastfeeding
  • Classes & Outreach
    • For The Community
    • For Professionals
  • Resources
    • Perinatal Depression
    • Perinatal Anxiety
    • Perinatal OCD
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Perinatal PTSD
    • Perinatal Psychosis
    • Breastfeeding
    • Young Parenting
    • Pregnancy Loss
    • High-Risk Pregnancy
    • Single Parenting
    • Fathers
    • Infertility
    • Adoptive & Birth Parents
    • LGBTQ+ Parents
    • Birth Planning
    • Military Families
    • NICU Parents
    • Attachment
    • PSI Online Support Groups
  • Contact Us
  • More
    • Home
    • About
      • Who We Are
      • What We Believe
    • Services
      • Women's Counseling
      • Family Counseling
      • Children's Counseling
      • Breastfeeding
    • Classes & Outreach
      • For The Community
      • For Professionals
    • Resources
      • Perinatal Depression
      • Perinatal Anxiety
      • Perinatal OCD
      • Bipolar Disorder
      • Perinatal PTSD
      • Perinatal Psychosis
      • Breastfeeding
      • Young Parenting
      • Pregnancy Loss
      • High-Risk Pregnancy
      • Single Parenting
      • Fathers
      • Infertility
      • Adoptive & Birth Parents
      • LGBTQ+ Parents
      • Birth Planning
      • Military Families
      • NICU Parents
      • Attachment
      • PSI Online Support Groups
    • Contact Us
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • What We Believe
  • Services
    • Women's Counseling
    • Family Counseling
    • Children's Counseling
    • Breastfeeding
  • Classes & Outreach
    • For The Community
    • For Professionals
  • Resources
    • Perinatal Depression
    • Perinatal Anxiety
    • Perinatal OCD
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Perinatal PTSD
    • Perinatal Psychosis
    • Breastfeeding
    • Young Parenting
    • Pregnancy Loss
    • High-Risk Pregnancy
    • Single Parenting
    • Fathers
    • Infertility
    • Adoptive & Birth Parents
    • LGBTQ+ Parents
    • Birth Planning
    • Military Families
    • NICU Parents
    • Attachment
    • PSI Online Support Groups
  • Contact Us

Understanding Perinatal PTSD

Perinatal PTSD can arise during pregnancy or after childbirth, triggered by past experiences or a difficult birth. Many women dismiss their symptoms, believing their experience “wasn’t that bad” or focusing solely on their baby’s health, but seeking support is essential for healing.

Explore Resources

What is Perinatal PTSD?

Perinatal PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental health condition that can occur in individuals who have experienced or witnessed traumatic events related to pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period. It can affect both birthing parents and their partners.

Symptoms May Include

  • Intrusive Memories: Recurrent, distressing memories of the traumatic event.
  • Avoidance: Steering clear of reminders of the trauma.
  • Negative Mood Changes: Persistent negative emotions and feelings of detachment.
  • Hyperarousal: Heightened anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and being easily startled.

Diagnosis & Treatment

  • Diagnosis involves a thorough evaluation by a mental health professional.
  • Treatment can include therapy, support groups, and sometimes medication.


Early support and treatment are essential for managing symptoms and improving overall well-being. PTSD can be overcome with counseling, processing, and understanding how it developed. If you or someone you know is affected, professional help can make a significant difference.


Trauma creates change you don’t choose; Healing creates change you do choose.


unknown

Resource List

The Birth Trauma MamaBirthful Podcast Ep #98Birth Monopoly - Obstetric ViolenceRAINN - National Sexual Assault HotlineThe Birth Trauma AssociationPATTCh

Books

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, by Bessel van der Kolk MD (2015)

The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment, Norton Professional Books, by Babette Rothschild (2000)

Traumatic Childbirth, by Cheryl Tatano Beck (2013)

When Survivors Give Birth: Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Childhood Sexual Abuse on Childbearing Women, by Penny Simkin & Phyllis Klaus (2004)



988: Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 

If you are feeling vulnerable or suicidal or are worried about someone, call 988, the national number for all mental health, substance use, and suicide crises. For more information on this lifeline, visit 

Alabama Department of Mental Health website. 

Copyright © 2025 WAC Counseling - All Rights Reserved.

Florence, AL

  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Resource Library

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

Accept