Midwife-led interventions to address postpartum post-traumatic stress : a systematic review

Abstract

Aim: To systematically identify interventions that midwives could introduce to address post-traumatic stress in women following childbirth. Background: •Childbirth is generally viewed as a positive, life-changing event for women and their families.! •However, this period of time may be one of critical psychological adjustment for women and precipitate the development of mental health problems.! •PTSD can occur as the result of a birth perceived as traumatic and may impact on women's ability to cope and parent effectively in the postnatal period.! •Manifestations of PTSD exhibited in the wake of traumatic childbirth are similar to those shown after PTSD in the general population, but may also be more specific. They may include hinderance of breastfeeding, fear of future childbearing, dysfunctional mother– infant attachment, and sexual avoidance.