The relationship between birth satisfaction, posttraumatic stress disorder and postnatal depression symptoms in Croatian women

Abstract

Studies show that a woman's dissatisfaction with her birth experience may affect her well‐being. This study aimed to examine: (1) the birth satisfaction in Croatian women and compare it with UK normative data; (2) the association of different dimensions of birth satisfaction with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms. In a cross‐sectional online study, 603 postnatal Croatian women completed the Birth Satisfaction Scale‐Revised (subscales: Stress experienced during labour (SL), Women's personal attributes (WA), and Quality of care provision (QC)); City Birth Trauma Scale (subscales: Birth‐related symptoms and General symptoms); and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Subscale and total scale scores were calculated. Path analysis tested the model of three aspects of birth satisfaction effect on PTSD dimensions and depressive symptoms. The average birth satisfaction score was significantly lower compared to the UK data on the total scale and all three subscale scores. Path analysis revealed that all three dimensions of birth satisfaction (SL, WA, and QC) had an effect on Birth‐related symptoms. However, only Women's personal attributes (i.e., feeling anxiety or being in control during childbirth) had an effect on General symptoms and depressive symptoms, as well. Different aspects of birth satisfaction are important for maternal mental health following childbirth.

Dispositional Optimism, Mode of Delivery, and Perceived Labor Control among Recently Delivered Parturients

“…16 Data are accumulating that labor expectations and experience are key tenets in preventing traumatic childbirth [21][22][23][24] and, by extension, postpartum mental health disorders. 19,20 However, there is no prior research in the perinatal sphere on leveraging resilience resources such as DO to improve birth experience or prevent perinatal mental health conditions. DO has been proven to be changeable through various methods including visualization exercises, [25][26][27] cognitive and behavioral therapy, 28,29 mindfulness training, [30][31][32] and other programs that foster resilience.…”

“…16 Data are accumulating that labor expectations and experience are key tenets in preventing traumatic childbirth 21 22 23 24 and, by extension, postpartum mental health disorders. 19 20 However, there is no prior research in the perinatal sphere on leveraging resilience resources such as DO to improve birth experience or prevent perinatal mental health conditions.…”

“…15,16 There is mounting evidence that low DO is also associated with differences in labor experience including increased fear of the labor process 17 and labor pain 12 as well as mode of delivery. 18 DO 9,13,14 , mode of delivery 19 and lack of control during labor [20][21][22][23][24][25] are linked to elevated risk of postpartum…”

“…There is mounting evidence that low DO is also associated with differences in labor experience including increased fear of the labor process 16 and labor pain, 11 as well as mode of delivery. 17 DO, 9 12 13 mode of delivery, 18 and lack of control during labor 19 20 21 22 23 24 are linked to elevated risk of postpartum depression and anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder. However, the association of DO with perceived labor control has never been studied.…”

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on birth satisfaction and birth experiences in Russian women

“…Second, all the data are based on self-reports, with no medical records or other objective information on the participants' health and obstetric history, which may limit its validity. Another limitation that should be considered is the unidimensional nature of the BSS-RI measurement of birth satisfaction ( 67 ). It presents the possibility of missing important factors affecting women's attitudes toward their childbirth experiences and, thus, the short- and long-term effects of these experiences on their physical and mental health as well as the health of their children.…”