Disrupted Autonomy: Perceived Loss of Control as a Vulnerability in Traumatic Birth

Traumatic birth is experienced by a substantial proportion of birthing individuals and is associated with increased risk of childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD), postpartum depression, anxiety, and disruption of family functioning. Although medical complications are a contributing factor to traumatic birth, research suggests that perceived autonomy, agency, and control may play a more central role in the way that childbirth is experienced as traumatic. This conceptual review examines perceived loss of control as a vulnerability factor in traumatic birth and places it within broader systems of power, discrimination, and health inequity. We draw on literature on obstetric interventions, racialized healthcare experiences, immigration, and family systems to argue that disruptions to autonomy in childbirth are relationally and structurally produced, rather than individual experiences alone. Implications for feminist family therapy include the promotion of agency, collaborative meaning-making, trauma-informed care, and relational interventions that support postpartum recovery and family well-being.