Mode of delivery and traumatic birth experience: The role of the midwife

Abstract

Dear Editor, Labor and childbirth should be a great experience with positive memories and emotions. However, there are many women who experience their childbirth as a negative or even traumatic experience. Stress factors during labor can be a really life-threatening situation or a situation that is experienced as threatening, such as loss of control, loss of dignity, a hostile or negative environment, and generally situations where women feel fear, loss of control, and terror1-3. Various studies show that about 10.5–30% of women after birth recognize their childbirth as traumatic1,2, and 1.5% to 6% appear with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)2,3. The partners of the women can also have PTSD as witnesses of a traumatic birth3. Studies refer as basic risk factor for PTSD postpartum, the mode of delivery and women’s subjective birth experience4