By the time she was wheeled into an operating room, the epidural had worn off significantly.
They just started cutting me open, she says.
I could feel everything.
Johnson says she screamed and told providers about the pain; however, her pleas went unanswered.
While Johnson recognizes that her son was in danger, she says nobody communicated with her.
I made a scene, Johnson says.
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That was what it took to be heard.
Eventually, her birthing team put a mask over her face, and she fell asleep.
It makes me angry, Johnson says.
I could have died of shock from the pain.
[Birth trauma] can look so different across different birthing people and the intersections of their identities.
She adds that these experiences are subjective and data is hard to quantify.
The leading causeshemorrhage, cardiomyopathy, and thrombotic pulmonary embolismare largely preventable.
Like Johnson, McNeil says that lack of communication contributed to her distress.
During labor McNeil says procedures happened without explanation, and ultimately she needed an emergency c-section.
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Physicians can significantly impact a persons birthing experience, McNeil says.
Explain why something, like pulling out the placenta, needs to happen, she says.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
However, those factors are even more instrumental forsurvivors of sexual violence.
During laborwhen birthing people may feel less control over their bodiesMcNeil says survivors are often retraumatized and triggered.
This can happen before and during the delivery; however, it can also occur postpartum.
Making sure providers are trauma-informed can help reduce added risk.
Additionally, Dr. Hardemen explains that trauma can be inherited through the stories and even the habits of elders.
Ultimately, residual effects of birth trauma impact the postpartum period overall.
Compassion and informed consent help patients feel safe and supported throughout their process, McNeil says.
And thats what can change a very traumatic experience so that it doesnt leave residual effects.
We have to ask ourselves: How do I, as a Black pregnant person, protect myself?
Dr. Hardeman says that there are organizations that are striving for birth equity.
Additionally, birth workers can help mitigate complications and trauma both in birthing centers and traditional hospital configs.
As for Johnson, she says her traumatic experience has made her reluctant to give birth again.
However, she hasnt ruled it out completely.
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