Traumatic Childbirth Experiences and their Association with Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Review

Traumatic childbirth experiences, characterized by intense fear, helplessness, or loss of control during labor or delivery, may increase the risk of postpartum psychiatric disorders. Events such as emergency cesarean sections, preterm births, and neonatal intensive care unit admissions have been associated with elevated psychological distress. This systematic review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the association between traumatic childbirth experiences and postpartum psychiatric disorders, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases was conducted. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Eighteen studies involving 1,892 women were included. Rates of postpartum depression and post-traumatic stress disorder were consistently higher among women who experienced emergency cesarean sections compared to vaginal deliveries. Considerable heterogeneity was observed across study designs, populations, and assessment methods. This review suggests a consistent association between traumatic childbirth experiences and postpartum psychiatric disorders. Further longitudinal research using standardized methodologies is needed to clarify causal mechanisms and inform the development of effective trauma-informed interventions to support maternal mental health.