City Research Online

Abstract

Traumatic birth is a term used to describe a birth where there has been a physical injury to mother and/or infant, a negative psychological impact from the birth, or both. Statistics as to its prevalence vary, but narrative accounts of women who report a traumatic birth identify the importance of their interactions with healthcare professionals involved in their care. Research exploring the perspective of healthcare professionals in relation to traumatic birth is very limited, with little known about their understanding of the term and their experience of working in an environment where traumatic birth is a possibility. This study uses an abbreviated grounded theory method to understand how healthcare professionals understand and work with traumatic birth, via semi-structured interviews with ten participants from NHS maternity services. Three main categories emerged from the data: System, Self, and Women and Birthing People. These three categories illustrate how participants understand the systemic influences to traumatic birth in their workplaces, how they make sense of their own practice and personal attributes in relation to traumatic birth, and how they understand their patients who may experience traumatic birth. The categories are linked by one core category: “We don’t like to think we are traumatising women, but we are”, which illustrates how across the main categories, there does not need to be intent for trauma to occur. It also presents how the systemic context, the individual healthcare professionals, and the people they support can be conceptualised as a delicate and balanced system, where any shortcoming – whether intentional or not – can negate good practice to the extent of causing a traumatic birth. The findings also demonstrate differing levels of understanding on the part of the healthcare professional across the categories, influencing how they are able to understand and work with traumatic birth. The findings are explored in the context of relevant psychological theory and the ongoing movement to challenge medical misogyny. The strengths and limitations of the study are evaluated, and recommendations are made for Counselling Psychology and for future research to continue to explore the factors that perpetuate the phenomenon of traumatic birth.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Psychology & Neuroscience School of Health & Medical Sciences > School of Health & Medical Sciences Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses

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