Work

Psychological implications of attending a birth review: A pre-post observational study of birth experience and post-traumatic stress symptoms

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Birth reviews provide a space to talk about birth experiences. Women report finding them helpful, but their specific psychological impact has not been explored. This study investigated whether childbirth experience, perception of birth as traumatic, post-traumatic stress symptoms, shame, and self-compassion changed following a birth review. Psychological flexibility was also examined as a potential predictor of any changes. METHOD: Women in the postnatal period (N = 211), who had been referred or self-referred for a birth review, were invited to participate in a pre-post observational study. Birth reviews were completed by midwives from the maternal mental health service trained in the five-step model for listening to women after childbirth. Birth reviews form part of an integrated childbirth trauma service with potential for psychological referral. Eighty-five participants completed baseline measures examining childbirth experience, post-traumatic stress symptoms, shame, self-compassion, and psychological flexibility before their birth review. Two to six weeks after their birth review, 70 participants repeated the same measures. Pre-post comparisons from 70 women were analysed, as well as conducting intention-to-treat analyses. RESULTS: Perception of the birth as traumatic significantly reduced, and perception of childbirth experience, levels of shame, and post-traumatic stress symptoms all significantly improved following birth review. There was no significant change in total self-compassion. Psychological flexibility did not predict post-review scores when controlling for baseline levels. CONCLUSIONS: Midwifery birth reviews using the presented model may improve perceptions of childbirth and reduce traumatic birth perception, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and trauma-related shame. A randomised controlled trial is now required.

Source: Women and Birth

DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102110

Authors: Lucy Jones, Emma Williamson, Hannah Twiddy, Charlotte Krahé, Alison Brodrick, Pauline Slade

Institutions: University of Liverpool, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool John Moores University

Language: English

Topic: Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions

Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,613