LAUSR

Abstract An innovative approach to help mental health providers identify individuals who may be struggling with the aftermath of birth trauma is to become vigilant in listening for metaphors women may use to describe how they have been feeling. Metaphors can provide a safe bridge for individuals to share and work through painful and challenging feelings. This lexicon of metaphors has four sections: impact birth trauma had on breastfeeding, impaired mother-infant interaction, anniversary of birth trauma, and subsequent childbirth. Examples of these metaphors include empty affair, head in a vise, short fuze, severed ties, great pretender, and mental baggage.