Kristen H Kjerulff1, Laura B Attanasio2, Kristin K Sznajder3, Laura H Brubaker4. 1. Departments of Public Health Sciences and Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, USA. Electronic address: khk2@psu.edu. 2. School of Public Health & Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA. 3. Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Penn State University, Hershey, PA, USA. 4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate risk factors for childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (CR-PTSD) measured 1-month after first childbirth, and the association between CR-PTSD and maternal-infant bonding. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study 3006 nulliparous women living in Pennsylvania, USA, were asked about CR-PTSD at 1-month postpartum, and maternal-infant bonding at 1, 6 and 12-months postpartum. Multivariable logistic regression models identified risk factors for CR-PTSD and associations between CR-PTSD and maternal-infant bonding at 1, 6 and 12-months postpartum, controlling for confounding variables - including postpartum depression, stress and social support. RESULTS: Nearly half (47.5%) of the women reported that during labor and delivery they were afraid that they or their baby might be hurt or die, and 225 women (7.5%) reported experiencing one or more CR-PTSD symptoms at 1-month postpartum. Depression, stress and low social support during pregnancy were associated with CR-PTSD, as well as labor induction, delivery complications, poor pain control, and unplanned cesarean delivery. Women with CR-PTSD reported a less positive childbirth experience, less shared decision-making, and were more likely to score in the bottom third on maternal-infant bonding at 1-month postpartum (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.5, 95% CI 1.8-3.3, p < 0.001); at 6-months postpartum (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.5-2.8, p < 0.001); and at 12-months postpartum (aOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.6-3.0, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this large-scale prospective cohort study we found that CR-PTSD was consistently associated with lower levels of maternal-infant bonding over the course of the first year after first childbirth.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate risk factors for childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (CR-PTSD) measured 1-month after first childbirth, and the association between CR-PTSD and maternal-infant bonding. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study 3006 nulliparous women living in Pennsylvania, USA, were asked about CR-PTSD at 1-month postpartum, and maternal-infant bonding at 1, 6 and 12-months postpartum. Multivariable logistic regression models identified risk factors for CR-PTSD and associations between CR-PTSD and maternal-infant bonding at 1, 6 and 12-months postpartum, controlling for confounding variables - including postpartum depression, stress and social support. RESULTS: Nearly half (47.5%) of the women reported that during labor and delivery they were afraid that they or their baby might be hurt or die, and 225 women (7.5%) reported experiencing one or more CR-PTSD symptoms at 1-month postpartum. Depression, stress and low social support during pregnancy were associated with CR-PTSD, as well as labor induction, delivery complications, poor pain control, and unplanned cesarean delivery. Women with CR-PTSD reported a less positive childbirth experience, less shared decision-making, and were more likely to score in the bottom third on maternal-infant bonding at 1-month postpartum (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.5, 95% CI 1.8-3.3, p < 0.001); at 6-months postpartum (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.5-2.8, p < 0.001); and at 12-months postpartum (aOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.6-3.0, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this large-scale prospective cohort study we found that CR-PTSD was consistently associated with lower levels of maternal-infant bonding over the course of the first year after first childbirth.
Authors: Nicole Ginter; Lea Takács; Martine J M Boon; Corine J M Verhoeven; Hannah G Dahlen; Lilian L Peters Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-07-20 Impact factor: 4.614