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.”
1
What is intervention?
2
Responding to a complicated birth
3
Feel how you feel – it’s OK
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A delayed response
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Talk to a health professional
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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.
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).