Childbirth, Control, and Re-Traumatization

Childbirth places many women in a position of extreme vulnerability. For survivors of sexual harassment, this vulnerability can be overwhelming.

During labor and delivery:

• Doctors and nurses control the process

• Pain is intense and unavoidable

• The body is exposed

• Decisions are often made quickly by others

For survivors, this can reactivate feelings they once experienced during abuse:

• Helplessness

• Loss of control

• Shame

• Humiliation

The pain of labor may trigger memories of physical harm. Medical procedures may feel invasive. Being unable to stop or escape can echo past experiences of violation.

Some women experience:

• Panic attacks during labor

• Flashbacks

• Emotional shutdown

• Memory loss after delivery due to shock
  

When a survivor feels she has no control over her body, her trauma can resurface with full force.

This is why trauma-informed medical care matters.

Doctors who take time to explain procedures, ask for consent, and prepare women emotionally can make a life-changing difference.

Wait for me next week to complete this conversation.

Dr. Laila Risgallah Wahba