This presentation brings visibility to the often invisible experience of traumatic childbirth and its ever widening ripple effect. Prevalence of birth trauma and its resulting PTSD are covered along with the essential components of a traumatic birth. Risk factors for mothers developing PTSD due to childbirth are identified. The following chronic effects of traumatic childbirth are described: its impact on breastfeeding, anniversary of the birth trauma, and subsequent childbirth. The impact of traumatic childbirth extends beyond the mother herself to her infant, partner, and clinicians who were present during the birth trauma. Also addressed in this presentation is secondary traumatic stress which is an occupational hazard for clinicians who care for traumatized patients. This stress results from helping or wanting to help traumatized or suffering patients, in this case, women during childbirth. Symptoms of secondary traumatic stress which parallel PTSD are described as well as prevalence rates of secondary traumatic stress in obstetrical clinicians’ experiences of attending traumatic births. The presentation concludes with implications for clinical practice.
Learning Objectives:
Objective 1: Describe the essential components of a traumatic birth
Objective 2: Identify risk factors for developing PTSD due to childbirth
Objective 3: Discuss the impact of traumatic childbirth on women’s breastfeeding experiences
Objective 4:Recognize symptoms of secondary traumatic stress in obstetrical caregivers
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