Maternal adjustment five months after birth: the impact of the subjective experience of childbirth and emotional support from the partner

Abstract

: Recent research suggests that negative childbirth experiences may cause maternal maladjustment. The impact of intranatal emotional distress, intranatal physical discomfort and postnatal emotional evaluation of birth on symptoms of posttraumatic stress and depression is investigated with regard to the moderating role of emotional support from the partner. Subjective childbirth experience measured with the German version of the Salmons Item List, obstetric characteristics and postnatal emotional support from the partner were assessed in 374 women six weeks after childbirth. Trauma symptoms and postnatal depression were measured five months after childbirth. Postnatal emotional partner support acts as a moderator of the effect of the subjective childbirth experience on the development of symptoms of avoidance, intrusive thoughts and depression. The direct influence of emotional partner support is stronger regarding symptoms of depression and hyperarousal than regarding avoidance and intrusive thoughts. No direct association between intranatal physical discomfort/labour pain and later maternal adjustment could be found. Women with a negative childbirth experience and poor emotional support from their partner are at increased risk for psychological maladjustment in the first five months after birth.