A review of postnatal debriefing of mothers following traumatic delivery

This paper reviews the literature on the effectiveness of the debriefing of mothers after giving birth and considers the recommendations in relation to health visiting practice. Studies suggest a correlation between negative birth experiences and depression in women and a small percentage of women meet the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies on debriefing were examined, some of which suggested that midwife-led debriefing after an operative birth was ineffective in reducing maternal morbidity and the possibility of contributing to emotional health problems could not be excluded. Significant influencing factors were the timing and construction of the debriefing that was carried out. Guidance was found to give clear recommendations for maternity staff and other health professionals to support women who wish to talk about their experiences, but that no formal debriefing should be routinely offered to women who have experienced a traumatic birth. The author considered that the term debriefing may not be the correct term for health visitors listening to mothers' birth experiences, and that further research from a health visiting perspective would be beneficial.