Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing treatment for birth trauma: a scoping review

A traumatic childbirth can have negative consequences for mothers, as well as their children and partners. While eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is recommended in clinical guidelines as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth, the specific application of EMDR for this population remains unclear. This scoping review aims to explore the extent of existing literature on the use of EMDR in the treatment of birth trauma. This review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and included sources of evidence in which individuals or partners received EMDR treatment for birth trauma. Databases searched included PsycInfo, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, and CINAHL, from inception of the database until approximately August 2025. Grey literature was also searched. Sources were limited to English-language publications. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data from eligible quantitative and qualitative sources. Data were analysed in a descriptive and thematic manner. Data extraction included the sources' characteristics, outcomes, and results. Findings are presented in tabular and narrative formats. Twenty-nine sources of evidence were included, comprising randomized control trials, qualitative research, systematic reviews, and grey literature. Overall, EMDR showed promise in treating birth trauma, although the diversity of the evidence type and methodological design varied. This scoping review indicates that EMDR may be a promising intervention for birth trauma. However, the current evidence base is limited and heterogeneous in terms of study design type and outcome measures used. Further research is needed that includes long-term data, qualitative designs, diverse ethnicities, and the perspectives of partners.