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

Jones, L, Williamson, E ORCID: 0000-0003-2306-363X, Twiddy, H, Krahé, C ORCID: 0000-0002-0620-1263, Brodrick, A ORCID: 0000-0003-1905-7704 and Slade, P (2025) Psychological implications of attending a birth review: A pre-post observational study of birth experience and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Women and Birth, 38 (6). ISSN 1871-5192

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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.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	11 Medical and Health Sciences; Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine; 3215 Reproductive medicine; 4204 Midwifery
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date of acceptance:	18 September 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	2 October 2025
Date Deposited:	02 Oct 2025 09:02
Last Modified:	02 Oct 2025 09:15
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.wombi.2025.102110
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27242

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