A new study that suggests a traumatic pregnancy can trigger PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, in a mother.

PTSD is when a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.

While postpartum depression is more commonly diagnosed for first-time mothers, there’s research that suggests pregnancy-related PTSD is on the rise. According to the Dallas News, about 10 percent of women with a prior pregnancy complication have PTSD, while about 30 percent meet partial criteria when it comes to their symptoms and experiences. The good news is that many women will recover from their PTSD within the first year, but about a third still develop chronic symptoms later on.

Researchers also point out that PTSD is often associated with preterm births. Dr. Shivani Patel is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas suggests that pregnant women should be honest with their medical experiences. This way it will help doctors figure out of their patients may be experiencing PTSD. After all, a woman’s emotional well-being is just as important as her physical well-being.

Dr. Patel opened up about her own experience, and how her own PTSD impacted her pregnancy. Ever since she developed preeclampsia during her first pregnancy, the thought of having her blood pressure taken triggers both flashbacks and gives her anxiety.

She says, “At 29 weeks, I was told that my baby was not growing normally, and I was once again diagnosed with preeclampsia. By 34 weeks, the symptoms had become severe and I had another C-section. But because I had shared my anxieties from the first C-section with my medical team, they implemented small changes that made the experience better for me.”

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And while her daughters are healthy and thriving today, Dr. Patel does admit that having her blood pressure taken still triggers unfortunate flashbacks. She says that she always gives herself about 20 minutes before her doctor’s appointments in order to calm herself down. This is why Dr. Patel urges her patients and pregnant women to communicate their thoughts and feelings with a trusted medical professional in order for them to get the best care possible.

Over 3 million people each year – including many pregnant women – suffer from PTSD. While it’s usually treatable by a medical professional, it does require a medical diagnosis and it can take years before a person feels like their old self again.