Infant Pain and Long Term Effects
Birth Trauma Has Lasting Psycological
Effects
Although alomst addressing trauma to the nervous system when looking at birth
trauma, there is growing evidence that the traumas of birth have lasting psycological
effects.
"Although controversy can still be generated, especially among persons who are
not acquainted with contemporary findings, we should not proceed arrogantly with
the routine traumatization of our infants at birth! Fortunately, an increasing
number of therapists are being privately trained to recognize and work to resolve
prenatal/perinatal trauma, but there could never be enough of them to do the
work that is piling up. It would take an army of therapists to keep up with endless
production line of trauma at birth! Their work could be--and should be--eliminated
with the prevention of unnecessary traumas of contemporary obstetrics. But there
is no end in sight at this time."
David B. Chamberlain, Ph.D. Birth
Trauma is Real!
Infant Pain May Have Long-Term Effects
Newborn infants who are exposed to a series of painful and stressful treatments
display a variety of long-term effects as older children, including an altered
response to pain and an exaggerated physiological response to stress, new research
shows.
Newborn infants, including those born prematurely, have functional nervous
systems that are capable of perceiving pain, the researchers say. While many
physicians have become aware of the need for anesthesia during circumcisions,
for example, little is routinely done for infants who may face repeated needle
sticks and other stressful conditions while in a neonatal intensive care unit.
Center for the Advancement of Health Infant
Pain May Have Long-Term Effects
World Mental Health Day Focuses on Child Trauma
Children exposed to traumatic events can suffer emotional consequences for
the rest of their lives. This year's World Mental Health Day seeks to keep
children safe from trauma.
The report also offers tips for organizations and health professionals about
how to organize and publicize WMHD activities, for example, by conducting seminars
on the prevention and effects of trauma in children.
Hmmm..seminars on birth trauma? I can see DCs getting on this.
Eve Bender World
Mental Health Day Focuses on Child Trauma Psychiatric
News 2002 (Sep 20); 37 (18)
Read our Birth Trauma Page