Listening to Women After Childbirth / Edition 1

by Alison Brodrick, Emma Williamson

Overview

It is vital that healthcare practitioners understand the psychological impact of childbirth when caring for women. This accessible guide is designed to improve the care that women receive and, as a result, public health outcomes related to maternal and infant wellbeing.

This book outlines how clinicians can offer practical support to women after birth. It:

• discusses what we know about how women adapt to motherhood and develop a post-childbirth identity;
• outlines some of the causes and manifestations of post-traumatic stress following childbirth;
• provides practical guidance for setting up postnatal pathways for women traumatised by birth and how to communicate effectively;
• equips practitioners with the knowledge and skills to support pregnant women with a fear of birth;
• incorporates narratives from women to demonstrate how their births and related events were perceived and processed, before discussing how women’s views can be used to inform future practice;
• highlights the importance of restorative supervision for healthcare professionals working in this area to promote staff resilience and sustainability.

Drawing together theoretical knowledge, evidence, practical skills and women’s narratives to help clinicians understand the psychology of childbirth and support women, it is of significant value to all healthcare practitioners engaged in maternity services.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780815360339
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	02/12/2020
Pages:	146
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

Alison Brodrick is a consultant midwife at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, UK. Alison has established the Sheffield birth afterthoughts service and an antenatal service for pregnant women who are fearful of birth. She is also involved in service redesign within maternity.

Emma Williamson is a clinical psychologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, UK. Emma currently works therapeutically with women who are experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder following childbirth and has previously researched in this area.

Table of Contents

1. Transition to motherhood 2. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder-Understanding the iceberg 3. Communication Skills: How to listen 4. Birth Afterthoughts-a stepped care model 5. Therapeutic Interventions-the next step 6. Supporting women in their next pregnancy 7. Promoting Staff resilience 8. Using narratives to inform practice

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Jill Alliman, DNP, CNM (Frontier Nursing University)
Description: This is an important resource for midwives, mental health providers, and other care providers seeking preparation to care for those who experience birth trauma. The book, a collaboration between a clinical psychologist and a midwife, covers the transition to parenthood and varied responses for individuals depending on previous life experiences and how the processes of labor and birth unfold. Authors describe ways that care providers can help childbearing women process and recover from any stress and trauma related to childbirth.
Purpose: The purpose is to describe the normal psychological transition that occurs during childbearing, to give midwives and healthcare providers tools to listen to women's experiences and validate them, to provide screening tools to determine if PTSD is present, and to determine when therapeutic intervention is indicated.
Audience: The audience is midwives and physicians who provide maternity care, and students and mental health providers who serve this population. Additionally, the authors recommend the book be utilized by advocates for women's rights to improve access to support services.
Features: The book begins with a thorough background on the psychology of transitions to parenthood. Childbirth can be traumatic depending on previous life experiences, how labor and birth progress, and the responses of care providers. Data show that 4% of people experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childbirth, but between 16% and 30% experience significant symptoms of PTSD that do not meet the level for clinical diagnosis. Steps for screening and intervention are detailed, again with specific information on timing, organizing a listening session, and listening in an open and non-threatening manner. Screenings for PTSD and other mental health conditions are recommended as part of postpartum care. Therapeutic intervention is indicated if perinatal mental illness is diagnosed, and is described in detail. Final chapters focus on the importance of self-care for healthcare providers and explain how to use the stories shared to improve quality of care. The personal narratives of childbearing women are one of the best features of the book in that they illustrate the feelings of fear, inadequacy, and loss of the ideal birth experience that many encounter at this vulnerable time. Simple purposeful listening sessions are described as an important tool for resolution. For better use as a textbook, clear objectives would be a practical addition.
Assessment: This book is a valuable contribution to the literature on postpartum care for childbearing people. It describes psychological responses to trauma in childbirth, including PTSD and subclinical PTSD symptoms. Additionally, a range of treatment options are described in detail so advocates can increase access to this care and incorporate it into their practices.

Doody's Review Service

"Listening to Women After Childbirth is a must-read for anyone involved in maternity care, particularly those who are involved in providing care during the postpartum period. The book combines powerful narratives from women, theoretical knowledge, evidence and practical skills to increase clinicians understanding of the psychology of childbirth. The book will be fundamental to all maternity workers engaged in the designing and implementing of maternity services for women traumatised by childbirth and for women with a fear of childbirth. The book covers detailed information about post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), outlining signs and symptoms, appropriate diagnosis and the importance of effective, evidence-based therapeutic interventions. The authors reiterate the importance of being an empathetic listener when providing care to women in the postpartum period and equip clinicians with effective communication skills to ultimately improve the care women receive…I highly recommend this fantastic book to anyone involved in maternity care. Reading it has significantly increased my understanding and awareness of the psychology of childbirth." – The Practising Midwife

From the Publisher