Experiences of traumatic birth, couple and family relationships.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the relationships between experiences of traumatic birth, couple relationships, and the transition to parenthood.
IRAS ID
212563
Contact name
Sarah J Butterworth
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
ERN_16-1249, University Ethics Self Assessment Form
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 2 days
Research summary
Research tells us that around a third of mothers experience the process of giving birth to a child as traumatic. A birth may be seen as objectively traumatic if it involved a threat to the safety or life of the mother or child (such as an emergency cesarean, birth intervention - forceps or vacuum, antepartum or postpartum haemorrhage, pre-eclampsia etc.) It could also be experienced as subjectively traumatic to the couple such as a birth that included a long labour, unbearable pain, loss of control or lack of support. Some mothers with these experiences may go on to develop a post-traumatic stress reaction following childbirth. This reaction may make her distressed and experience symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares and anxiety. Experiencing this post-traumatic stress reaction after childbirth is not limited to mothers; more recently it has been acknowledged that the father or partner can also suffer similar reactions. If the mother or father / partner experiences distress following traumatic childbirth this may have an effect on them individually, on the relationship the couple has together and their relationship with the child. It may also affect their decision to have another child.
The research is exploring how traumatic childbirth is experienced within couple and family relationships. This will extend the current limited research in this area, which has predominantly focuses on mothers. A greater knowledge of couples' experiences, coping mechanisms and their relationship to help seeking may allow maternity health professionals to offer appropriate, timely support to families after a traumatic birth. The research has two possible designs. Study 1: to interview six couples who have had a traumatic childbirth experience, compare their accounts and the six pairs will then be analysed together. Alternatively, use Study 2: to interview individual parents on their experiences of traumatic childbirth with a focus on couple and family relationships.
REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0265
Date of REC Opinion
20 Sep 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion