BACKGROUND:
Approximately one in five people experience mental health difficulties associated with pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, costing the UK up to £8.1 billion per year. Factors in pregnancy and birth that contribute to this are relatively well known, but how/why postnatal care experiences can impact distress are less understood.

OBJECTIVES:
This research aimed to explore experiences of postnatal ward care following birth trauma (BT) to consider if negative experiences can be explained by sanctuary trauma (ST), and if not, consider how else we may understand it. ST occurs when someone experiences a traumatic event, then enters an environment they expect to be supportive and protective but become further traumatised by the lack of sanctuary and support.

METHODS:
This study conducted online interviews (30-60 minutes) with 20 birthing people with varying experiences on UK postnatal wards following a traumatic first birth (after 1st February 2022). Recruitment occurred January-June 2025. This research received ethical approval from University of Lincoln Human Ethics Committee on 20th November 2024 (reference: UoL2024_18961). There are no conflicts of interest.

RESULTS:
Using thematic analysis (in progress), preliminary results suggest interpersonal factors, limited staffing, and system impact, created traumatic experiences on postnatal wards. Coding to date indicates some relevance to ST, but other themes are also emerging.

CONCLUSIONS:
Once concluded (aim February 2026), the research will increase understanding of the importance of and needs in postnatal care. It begins a stream of research focusing on developing interventions to reduce postnatal distress after BT and further understand the perinatal trauma landscape.

KEY MESSAGE:
Midwives are key stakeholders in the implementation of protective and early intervention after BT, and stressors and factors impacting midwives’ ability to provide this on postnatal wards are vital to consider. These results will likely contribute to the evidence for the need for “One Million More Midwives” Poster session 2 (Group A)