Joanne,

My first thought is a history of sexual abuse. I suggest exploring along
those lines. You might start gently by asking open ended questions around
how she feels about having babe at breast, what was her labor like? How was
it for her to have babe move through vagina?It is not unusal for a woman
with hx of sexual abuse to have a hard time with birth, frequently get
numbed (epidural or c-sec) or freak out in second stage when babe hits
perinium. Sexual abuse is very very common.

All the best.

Lisa Boisvert-Mackenzie, Midwife
East Caroline Islands, Pacific Ocean

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