Childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder is a psychological disorder that can develop in women who have recently given birth. This disorder can also affect men or partners who have observed a difficult birth. Its symptoms are not distinct from

post-traumatic stress disorder Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental and behavioral disorder that can develop because of exposure to a traumatic event, such as sexual assault, warfare, traffic collisions, child abuse, domestic violence, or other threats o ...

(PTSD).

Signs and symptoms

Examples of symptoms of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder include intrusive symptoms such as flashbacks and nightmares, as well as symptoms of avoidance (including amnesia for the whole or parts of the event), problems in developing a mother-child attachment, not having sexual intercourse in order to prevent another

pregnancy Pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring develops (gestation, gestates) inside a woman, woman's uterus (womb). A multiple birth, multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins. Pregnancy usually occur ...

, and avoidance of birth- and pregnancy-related issues. Symptoms of increasing stress can be sweating, trembling, being irritated, and sleep disturbances. Other examples of symptoms of paternal childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder include anxiety or intense fear of losing their birthgiving partner or the child. This can lead to difficulties in the father-child connection.

Cause

Birth can be traumatic in different ways. Medical problems can result in interventions that can be frightening. The near death of a mother or baby, heavy bleeding, and emergency operations are examples of situations that can cause psychological trauma. Premature birth may be traumatic.Goutaudier, N, Lopez, A, Séjourné, N et al. (2011). Premature birth: subjective and psychological experiences in the first weeks following childbirth, a mixed-methods study. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 29, 364-373. Emotional difficulties in coping with the pain of childbirth can also cause psychological trauma. Lack of support, or insufficient coping strategies to deal with the pain are examples of situations that can cause psychological trauma. However, even normal birth can be traumatic, and thus PTSD is diagnosed based on symptoms of the mother and not whether or not there were complications. Additionally, in the process of birth, medical professionals who are there to aid the birthing mother may need to examine and perform procedures in the genital regions. The following are correlated with PTSD: * Medical complications before, during, or after childbirth: ** Pregnancy complications ** Emergency C-section ** Instrumental delivery ** Episiotomy ** Severe pain during birth ** Postpartum complications **

Preterm labour Preterm birth, also known as premature birth, is the birth of a baby at fewer than 37 weeks gestational age, as opposed to full-term delivery at approximately 40 weeks. Extreme preterm is less than 28 weeks, very early preterm birth is between ...

** History of infertility ** Inadequate care during labour * Social, psychological, and other factors: **

Unwanted pregnancy Unintended pregnancies are pregnancies that are mistimed, unplanned or unwanted at the time of conception. Sexual activity without the use of effective contraception through choice or coercion is the predominant cause of unintended pregnancy. W ...

** Low socioeconomic status **

Primiparous In biology and human medicine, gravidity and parity are the number of times a woman is or has been pregnant (gravidity) and carried the pregnancies to a viable gestational age (parity). These terms are usually coupled, sometimes with additional te ...

(first labour) ** Parenting (infant caring) problems ** Social support following childbirth ** Cultural factors ** History of mental health issues ** Other life stressors

Diagnosis

Childbirth-related PTSD is not a recognized diagnosis in the '' Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders''. Many women presenting with symptoms of PTSD after childbirth are misdiagnosed with

postpartum depression Postpartum depression (PPD), also called postnatal depression, is a type of mood disorder associated with childbirth, which can affect both sexes. Symptoms may include extreme sadness, low energy, anxiety, crying episodes, irritability, and cha ...

or adjustment disorders. These diagnoses can lead to inadequate treatment.

Epidemiology

Prevalence of PTSD following normal childbirth (excluding stillbirth or major complications) is estimated to be between 2.8% and 5.6% at six weeks postpartum, with rates dropping to 1.5% at six months postpartum. Symptoms of PTSD are common following childbirth, with prevalence of 24–30.1% at six weeks, dropping to 13.6% at six months.

Signs and symptoms

Cause

Diagnosis

Epidemiology

See also

References

Further reading