Towards a conceptual framework for understanding post-traumatic stress symptoms following childbirth and implications for further research

Abstract

This paper provides a synthesis of current knowledge about post-traumatic stress symptoms following childbirth. In particular it presents a two dimensional conceptual framework for understanding the development of symptoms based upon predisposing (pre-pregnancy/pregnancy), precipitating (perinatal) and maintaining (postnatal) factors, which relate to internal (within individual), external (environmental) and interactional factors. In addition key methodological issues and areas for further research are identified.

Keywords:

• Post-traumatic stress
• labour delivery
• childbirth