The Impact of Birth on Women’s Health and Wellbeing

Abstract

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Using an emotion‐focused approach in preventing psychological birth trauma

“…8,14 There are many personal, environmental and social etiological factors creating birth-related trauma/PTSD. 3 Emotionally, following psychological birth trauma, women experience a loss of control where their humanity is threatened, have ambivalent emotions about birth and negative emotions, such as panic, anger, nervousness, aggressiveness, irritability, guilt, suicidal thoughts, helplessness and hopelessness. 16 Women can experience: social isolation and disrupted relationships with their spouses and infants.…”

“…Childbirth is generally regarded as a positive experience during which women, who physically and mentally witness the birth of their babies, naturally have eustress (an optimal level of stress or arousal). 2,3 However, for some women, birth can be a psychologically traumatic and distressing experience 4 with pervasive and negative impacts for women, infants and their families. 5 Psychological birth trauma, like other forms of trauma, can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).…”

“…5 Psychological birth trauma, like other forms of trauma, can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 3 A key reason for PTSD onset is due to memories and emotions associated with the traumatic event not being processed. 6 While methods, such as eye movement stress disorder and cognitive behavioral therapy are recommended treatment options for PTSD, currently there is little evidence of their effectiveness in a perinatal population.…”

“…However, for some women, birth can be a psychologically traumatic and distressing experience 4 with pervasive and negative impacts for women, infants and their families 5 . Psychological birth trauma, like other forms of trauma, can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 3 . A key reason for PTSD onset is due to memories and emotions associated with the traumatic event not being processed 6 .…”

Positive psychology as a strategy for promoting sustainable population policies

“…Giving birth frequently brings with it prolonged depression. Present estimates suggest that 15-20% of women develop some form of mental health problem in pregnancy or after birth (Ayers and Sawyer, 2019). The mental health impacts are not limited to women with substantial numbers of men suffering affective disorders during pregnancy and for the first year after childbirth, which is increasingly diagnosed in the general category of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Taubman-Ben-Ari, 2019).…”