Exploring women's experiences in a midwifery continuity of care model following a traumatic birth.

Tafe, A; Cummins, A; Catling, C

Exploring women's experiences in a midwifery continuity of care model following a traumatic birth.

Tafe, A Cummins, A

Catling, C

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Women Birth, 2023, 36, (4), pp. e421-e427
Issue Date:: 2023-07

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Tafe, A
dc.contributor.author	Cummins, A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0626-3365
dc.contributor.author	Catling, C https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7352-2879
dc.date.accessioned	2023-09-25T04:12:31Z
dc.date.available	2023-01-24
dc.date.available	2023-09-25T04:12:31Z
dc.date.issued	2023-07
dc.identifier.citation	Women Birth, 2023, 36, (4), pp. e421-e427
dc.identifier.issn	1871-5192
dc.identifier.issn	1878-1799
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172273
dc.description.abstract	PROBLEM: Over one third of women report their birth experience as psychologically traumatic. Psychological birth trauma has been associated with perinatal mental illness and post-traumatic stress disorder. BACKGROUND: Midwifery continuity of care provides improved outcomes for mothers and babies as well as increased birth satisfaction. Some women who have experienced psychological birth trauma will seek out midwifery continuity of care in their next pregnancy. The aim of this study was to explore women's experiences of midwifery continuity of care following a previous traumatic birth experience in Australia. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive approach was undertaken. Eight multiparous women who self-identified as having psychological birth trauma were interviewed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to discover how participants subsequently experienced care in a midwifery continuity of care model. FINDINGS: Seven out of eight participants had care from a private midwife following birth trauma. Four themes were discovered. The nightmare lives on: despite a positive and/or healing experience in midwifery continuity of care, women still carry their traumatic birth experiences with them. Determination to find better care: Women sought midwifery continuity of care following a previous traumatic birth in their desire to prevent a similar experience. A broken maternity system: women described difficulties accessing these models including financial barriers and lack of availability. The power of continuity: All reported a positive experience birthing in a midwifery continuity of care model and some reported that this had a healing effect. CONCLUSION: Offering midwifery continuity of care models to women with a history of psychological birth trauma can be beneficial. More research is necessary to confirm the findings of this small study, and on ways women who have psychological birth trauma can be prioritised for midwifery continuity of care models in Australia.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Women Birth
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.wombi.2023.01.006
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	11 Medical and Health Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine
dc.subject.classification	3215 Reproductive medicine
dc.subject.classification	4204 Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Continuity of Patient Care
dc.subject.mesh	Parturition
dc.subject.mesh	Mothers
dc.subject.mesh	Parity
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Mothers
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Parity
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Parturition
dc.subject.mesh	Continuity of Patient Care
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Pregnancy
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Midwifery
dc.subject.mesh	Continuity of Patient Care
dc.subject.mesh	Parturition
dc.subject.mesh	Mothers
dc.subject.mesh	Parity
dc.title	Exploring women's experiences in a midwifery continuity of care model following a traumatic birth.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	36
utslib.location.activity	Netherlands
utslib.for	11 Medical and Health Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Midwifery
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-09-25T04:12:30Z
pubs.issue	4
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	36
utslib.citation.issue	4

Abstract:

PROBLEM: Over one third of women report their birth experience as psychologically traumatic. Psychological birth trauma has been associated with perinatal mental illness and post-traumatic stress disorder. BACKGROUND: Midwifery continuity of care provides improved outcomes for mothers and babies as well as increased birth satisfaction. Some women who have experienced psychological birth trauma will seek out midwifery continuity of care in their next pregnancy. The aim of this study was to explore women's experiences of midwifery continuity of care following a previous traumatic birth experience in Australia. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive approach was undertaken. Eight multiparous women who self-identified as having psychological birth trauma were interviewed. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to discover how participants subsequently experienced care in a midwifery continuity of care model. FINDINGS: Seven out of eight participants had care from a private midwife following birth trauma. Four themes were discovered. The nightmare lives on: despite a positive and/or healing experience in midwifery continuity of care, women still carry their traumatic birth experiences with them. Determination to find better care: Women sought midwifery continuity of care following a previous traumatic birth in their desire to prevent a similar experience. A broken maternity system: women described difficulties accessing these models including financial barriers and lack of availability. The power of continuity: All reported a positive experience birthing in a midwifery continuity of care model and some reported that this had a healing effect. CONCLUSION: Offering midwifery continuity of care models to women with a history of psychological birth trauma can be beneficial. More research is necessary to confirm the findings of this small study, and on ways women who have psychological birth trauma can be prioritised for midwifery continuity of care models in Australia.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172273