Cited by 246Maternal and Perinatal Health InterventionsMaternal and fetal healthcarePregnancy-related medical research

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Preventing traumatic childbirth experiences: 2192 women’s perceptions and views

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Hollander, M. H., van Hastenberg, E., van Dillen, J., van Pampus, M. G., de Miranda, E., Stramrood, C. A. I.·2017·Archives of Women's Mental Health

DOI 10.1007/s00737-017-0729-6PMC PMC5509770

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore and quantify perceptions and experiences of women with a traumatic childbirth experience in order to identify areas for prevention and to help midwives and obstetricians improve woman-centered care. A retrospective survey was conducted online among 2192 women with a self-reported traumatic childbirth experience. Women were recruited in March 2016 through social media, including specific parent support groups. They filled out a 35-item questionnaire of which the most important items were (1) self-reported attributions of the trauma and how they believe the traumatic experience could have been prevented (2) by the caregivers or (3) by themselves. The responses most frequently given were (1) Lack and/or loss of control (54.6%), Fear for baby's health/life (49.9%), and High intensity of pain/physical discomfort (47.4%); (2) Communicate/explain (39.1%), Listen to me (more) (36.9%), and Support me (more/better) emotionally/practically (29.8%); and (3) Nothing (37.0%), Ask for (26.9%), or Refuse (16.5%) certain interventions. Primiparous participants chose High intensity of pain/physical discomfort, Long duration of delivery, and Discrepancy between expectations and reality more often and Fear for own health/life, A bad outcome, and Delivery went too fast less often than multiparous participants. Women attribute their traumatic childbirth experience primarily to lack and/or loss of control, issues of communication, and practical/emotional support. They believe that in many cases, their trauma could have been reduced or prevented by better communication and support by their caregiver or if they themselves had asked for or refused interventions.

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Authors: Hollander, M. H., van Hastenberg, E., van Dillen, J., van Pampus, M. G., de Miranda, E., & Stramrood, C. A. I.
Affiliations: Radboud University Medical Center (NL)
University Medical Center Utrecht (NL)
Corresponding author: Hollander, M. H.
ORCID: Hollander, M. H.
Stramrood, C. A. I.
Venue: Archives of Women's Mental Health
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2017-05-29
Volume: 20
Issue: 4
Pages: 515-523
ISSN: 1434-1816 (ISSN-L)
1435-1102
DOI: 10.1007/s00737-017-0729-6
PMC: PMC5509770
OpenAlex: W2617617703
Cited by: 245
References: 19
Citations by year: 2026: 23 · 2025: 27 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 42 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 1
FWCI: 17.70
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: hybrid
doi.org
Licence: cc-by
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 (unspecified)
Locations: Archives of Women s Mental Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders: Radboud University Medical Center
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Maternal and fetal healthcare
Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Pregnancy-related medical research
Keywords: traumatic birth, childbirth experience, women's perceptions, loss of control, labor pain, caregiver communication, emotional support, primiparous women, multiparous women, woman-centred care, childbirth interventions
MeSH terms: Adult, Fear, Female, Humans, Mothers, Netherlands, Perception, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Outcome, Surveys and Questionnaires, Retrospective Studies, Parturition, Delivery, Obstetric, Labor Pain, Postpartum Period

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Preventing traumatic childbirth experiences: 2192 women’s perceptions and views

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