Posttraumatic stress symptoms following pregnancy complicated by hyperemesis gravidarum

Figures & data

Table I. Demographic information.

	f (%)			p
	No HG (A, n = 233)	HG (B, n = 309)	Full criteria (C, n = 68)	A–B	B–C	A–C
Ethnicity
Afro-American	1 (0.4)	5 (1.6)	2 (2.9)
American-Indian – White	3 (1.3)	4 (1.1)	0 (0)
Asian	2 (0.8)	2 (0.5)	0 (0)
Hispanic	4 (1.7)	13 (4.2)	2 (2.9)
Other	1 (0.4)	9 (2.9)	1 (1.5)
White	224 (96.1)	276 (89.3)	63 (92.6)
				0.26	0.66	0.66
Country of origin
AUS	1 (0.4)	1 (0.3)	0 (0)
CAN	3 (1.3)	2 (0.5)	0 (0)
DEU	1 (0.4)	4 (1.0)	0 (0)
GBR	3 (1.3)	1 (0.3)	0 (0)
ISR	1 (0.4)	1 (0.3)	0 (0)
NLD	0 (0)	1 (0.3)	0 (0)
NZL	0 (0)	1 (0.3)	0 (0)
UKR	0 (0)	1 (0.3)	0 (0)
USA	222 (95.3)	295 (95.5)	68 (100)
				0.91	0.99	0.99
Age (years)
Range	25–53	23–55	23–47
Mean	37	35	34
SD	5	6	6
				0.28	0.13	0.13

Table II. PTSS symptoms.

	f (%)
	HG (B, n = 309	Full criteria (C, n = 68)	pB–C
Nightmares of HG	38 (12.3)	52 (76.5)	<0.001
Nightmares for more than a year after delivery/loss	78 (25.2)	63 (92.6)	<0.001
Reexperiencing
Partial criteria	70 (22.7)	21 (30.9)	<0.001
Full criteria	23 (7.4)	47 (69.1)
Avoided being reminded for more than a year after loss/delivery	10 (3.2)	44 (64.7)	<0.001
Detached	7 (2.3)	31 (45.6)	<0.001
Avoid situations that remind you of HG	29 (9.4)	46 (67.6)	<0.001
Avoidance/Numbing
Partial criteria one	37 (12.0)	29 (42.6)	<0.001
Partial criteria two	4 (1.3)	25 (36.8)
Full criteria	0 (0)	14 (20.6)
Watchful	2 (0.6)	27 (36.7)	<0.001
Watchful for more than a year after loss/delivery	30 (9.7)	58 (85.3)	<0.001
Hyperarousal
Partial criteria one	32 (10.4)	51 (75)	<0.001
Full criteria two	0 (0)	17 (25)

Table III. Outcomes associated with PTSS following pregnancy.

	f (%)			p
	No HG (A, n = 233)	HG (B, n = 309)	Full criteria (C, n = 68)	A–B	B–C	A–C
Baby did not receive breast milk	25 (10.7)	109 (35.3)	22 (32.4)	<0.001	0.38	0.65
Difficulty producing breast milk	36 (15.5)	44 (14.2)	20 (29.4)	0.14	<0.05	<0.05
Persistent negative feelings toward child due to pregnancy experience	0 (0)	7 (2.3)	5 (7.4)	0.58	<0.05	<0.05
Missed time from work/school postpartum	11 (4.7)	146 (47.2)	47 (69.1)	<0.001	0.001	0.001
Lost job/quit school postpartum	1 (0.4)	53 (17.2)	18 (26.5)	<0.001	0.057	0.08
Marital problems postpartum	1 (0.4)	57 (18.4)	34 (50)	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001
Divorce postpartum	1 (0.4)	12 (4)	2 (2.9)	0.13	0.52	0.71
Financial problems postpartum	0 (0)	64 (20.7)	38 (55.9)	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001
Lost house/residence postpartum	0 (0)	10 (3.2)	3 (4.4)	0.057	0.43	0.63
Inability of child care postpartum	0 (0)	20 (6.5)	10 (14.7)	<0.05	<0.05	<0.05
Inability of self-care postpartum	2 (0.8)	96 (31.0)	37 (54.4)	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001
Psychiatric problems postpartum	2 (0.8)	87 (28.2)	57 (83.8)	<0.001	<0.001	<0.001