City Research Online

Abstract

Introduction
Recent research shows that 40.6% of women in the United Kingdom experience childbirth as at least moderately traumatic, and 5.9% develop childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD). However, risk factors for birth trauma ratings and CB-posttraumatic stress symptoms (CB-PTSS) in this sample remain unexplored. Therefore, the aim was to understand risk factors for birth trauma and CB-PTSS in a UK sample.

Material and Methods
A cross-sectional survey of traumatic birth and CB-PTSD with women (N = 339) from three hospitals in England, two in Wales, and three in Scotland. Participants completed the survey at 6–12 weeks postpartum. It included questions about (i) demographics and mental health; (ii) pregnancy; (iii) labor and birth; and (iv) the infant. Outcome variables were birth trauma rating and CB-PTSS.

Results
Higher birth trauma ratings were predicted by women not having other children, maternal complications during birth, lower birth satisfaction, and a mother not having skin-to-skin contact with her baby after birth. Higher CB-PTSS were predicted by younger maternal age, women not having other children, current mental health difficulties, previous trauma, giving birth in Scotland, emergency cesarean section, and lower birth satisfaction.

Conclusions
Overall, this paper found that traumatic birth and CB-PTSS symptoms are associated with a range of demographic, mental health, birth-related, and infant-related variables. Results from this study can be used to improve maternity care.

Abbreviations
BSS-R - Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised
CB-PTSD - childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder
CB-PTSS - childbirth-related posttraumatic stress symptoms
City BiTS - City Birth Trauma Scale

Key message
Most risk factor studies for CB-PTSD have been carried out in England. In a sample of women from England, Scotland, and Wales, higher CB-PTSS are predicted by younger maternal age, not having other children, current mental health difficulties, previous trauma, giving birth in Scotland, emergency cesarean, and lower birth satisfaction.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2026 The Author(s). Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology (NFOG). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons: Attribution International Public License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Publisher Keywords:	PTSD, childbirth‐related PTSD, risk factors, traumatic birth
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Nursing & Midwifery
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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