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Complicated births

Giving birth can lead to a range of complex feelings, especially when the experience is a difficult or traumatic one.

Bringing a baby into the world can bring up a range of physical and emotional complications that many of us simply aren’t ready for.

Sometimes during the birth process things might have been rushed and you felt you hadn’t really understood what was happening or what you were giving consent to. You might have felt powerless or that you had no control over the situation.

Here you'll find information about experiencing a complicated birth, and some tips to help you find extra support if you need it.

“I thought the birth would go a certain way and it just didn’t turn out how I expected.”

Helpful Information

Bao's story
Read More
Getting help: Support after birth
Read More

1

What is intervention?

2

Responding to a complicated birth

3

Feel how you feel – it’s OK

4

A delayed response

5

Talk to a health professional

6

Having another baby after a complicated birth experience

Mental health checklist

How are you going?

Everyone’s experience of pregnancy, birth and parenting is unique and brings different rewards and challenges. Our mental health checklist can help you to see if what you’re experiencing or observing in a loved one could be reason to seek help.

Checklist for

Expecting Mums
Expecting Dads and Non-birth Parents
New Mums
New Dads and Non-birth Parents
Partners and Carers
PANDA National Helpline

Find someone to talk to, Monday to Saturday.

1300 726 306

Call 000 for police and ambulance if you or someone else are in immediate danger

Talk with friends or family

Consider talking about how you are feeling with someone you trust. This might be a friend or family member. Once you starting talking you might be surprised at how many others have had similar experiences and the support they can provide you.

Talk with your doctor

Talking with your doctor can be an important step to getting the help you need. They should be able to give you non-judgemental support, assessment, diagnosis, and ongoing care and treatment. They can also refer you to specialists such as a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist.

Get help now

If you are having suicidal thoughts or are feeling disorientated it’s important to get help immediately. PANDA is not a crisis service, if you need immediate support call Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7).

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How are you going?

Everyone’s experience of pregnancy, birth and parenting is unique and brings different rewards and challenges. Our mental health checklist can help you to see if what you’re experiencing or observing in a loved one could be a reason to seek help.