A phenomenological exploration of parenting after birth trauma: Mothers perceptions of the first year

Abstract

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How stress can influence brain adaptations to motherhood

“…In addition to preterm birth, other difficult birth experiences and related trauma ( McDonald et al, 2011 , Molloy et al, 2020 ), as well as difficult infant temperament ( Mills-Koonce et al, 2007 , Oddi et al, 2013 ), can negatively influence a mother’s mental health and parenting. Exploration of the impact of these factors on the maternal brain remains very limited.…”

Perinatal Mental Health Support and Early Childhood Home Visitation During COVID-19

“…Research on parental stress and burnout has suggested that parents who experience burnout are more likely to engage in child maltreatment, placing children at risk for detrimental short-and long-term outcomes (Griffith, 2020). Additionally, women who experience birth trauma have described disconnection with their infants, lack of confidence in their parental decision making, distressing memory gaps of the immediate post-partum period, and physical recovery that overwhelmed their capabilities to parent the way they had imagined they would (Molloy et al, 2020). Chronic fatigue has been shown to increase parental irritability and angry and fatigued parents are less likely to be able to attend and engage in play (Giallo et al, 2013).…”

Mental health experiences of mothers in Jos, Nigeria: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

“…The experience of difficult childbirth labour appeared to be re-occurring with flashbacks triggering emotional distress. Similarly, Molloy et al 8 recently explored the perceptions of parenting after birth trauma. They reported that mothers who suffered birth trauma are at higher risk of anxiety and fear of their child’s health and their parenting capability.…”

“…Mental health conditions impact significantly on maternal functioning and prevent the mother from being emotionally available to meet the demands of her child. 7 , 8 Poor maternal mental health (MMH) could have lifelong consequences on the children. It predicts stunted growth and adverse neurological development in the children of the affected mothers and disturbances in the mother and child bonding and healthy childhood attachment with long-term adverse effects.…”