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CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Help-seeking following interpersonal and childbirth-related trauma: A grounded theory study
1
Trinity College Dublin, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Dublin, Ireland
2
University of Lausanne, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Lausanne, Switzerland
3
City St George's- University London, School of Health and Medical Sciences, London, United Kingdom
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A323
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The prevalence of childbirth-related trauma is a growing concern nationally and internationally (Ayers et al., 2024; Horsch et al., 2024). Women with a history of interpersonal trauma (IPT) e.g., witnessing or experiencing previous physical, emotional or sexual abuse are vulnerable to retraumatisation through childbirth (Kolk et al., 2021; Mackinnon et al., 2018; Martini et al., 2022). In Irish maternity services, women are not routinely screened for IPT despite national and international recommendations (Benton et al., 2024; Higgins, 2021; Teil et al., 2025).
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the help-seeking behaviours of women with a history of IPT who experienced childbirth as traumatic, and to generate a theory which explains how these women resolve their main concern.
METHODS:
Qualitative in-depth study using Classic Grounded Theory. Participants were purposively sampled. Interviews were conducted between 2022/2024 at two separate time points, 3 and 6 months postpartum. The substantive theory was developed through constant comparative analysis, theoretical coding and memo-writing.
RESULTS:
Thirty-nine interviews were completed in total, (19 participants completed both interviews, 1 participant completed 1 interview). The core category identified was “holding fear”, conceptualising the process of navigating pregnancy, childbirth and parenting with hypervigilance. Participants adopted help-seeking coping behaviours on a continuum from helpful to unhelpful. Internal and external factors influenced a shift in coping behaviours such as relational support systems, maternity care systems and peer support systems.
CONCLUSIONS:
Women with a history of IPT are vulnerable to retraumatisation through childbirth. Maternity care systems need to implement trauma-informed care approaches to identify women at risk, reduce the incidence of traumatic birth and to universally improve maternity care provision for women.
KEY MESSAGE:
Perinatal women with previous histories of trauma present with (often) hidden vulnerabilities, maternity services must recognise and respond appropriately to women's help-seeking needs. Abuse - survivors sexual violence
The prevalence of childbirth-related trauma is a growing concern nationally and internationally (Ayers et al., 2024; Horsch et al., 2024). Women with a history of interpersonal trauma (IPT) e.g., witnessing or experiencing previous physical, emotional or sexual abuse are vulnerable to retraumatisation through childbirth (Kolk et al., 2021; Mackinnon et al., 2018; Martini et al., 2022). In Irish maternity services, women are not routinely screened for IPT despite national and international recommendations (Benton et al., 2024; Higgins, 2021; Teil et al., 2025).
OBJECTIVES:
To explore the help-seeking behaviours of women with a history of IPT who experienced childbirth as traumatic, and to generate a theory which explains how these women resolve their main concern.
METHODS:
Qualitative in-depth study using Classic Grounded Theory. Participants were purposively sampled. Interviews were conducted between 2022/2024 at two separate time points, 3 and 6 months postpartum. The substantive theory was developed through constant comparative analysis, theoretical coding and memo-writing.
RESULTS:
Thirty-nine interviews were completed in total, (19 participants completed both interviews, 1 participant completed 1 interview). The core category identified was “holding fear”, conceptualising the process of navigating pregnancy, childbirth and parenting with hypervigilance. Participants adopted help-seeking coping behaviours on a continuum from helpful to unhelpful. Internal and external factors influenced a shift in coping behaviours such as relational support systems, maternity care systems and peer support systems.
CONCLUSIONS:
Women with a history of IPT are vulnerable to retraumatisation through childbirth. Maternity care systems need to implement trauma-informed care approaches to identify women at risk, reduce the incidence of traumatic birth and to universally improve maternity care provision for women.
KEY MESSAGE:
Perinatal women with previous histories of trauma present with (often) hidden vulnerabilities, maternity services must recognise and respond appropriately to women's help-seeking needs. Abuse - survivors sexual violence
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
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