Childhood Trauma in Postpartum mothers
| Key things to know | What the evidence shows |
|---|---|
| How common is it? | Same exposure history; clean postpartum-specific prevalence NE |
| Is it more common among postpartum mothers? | Childbirth, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation and parenting may reactivate trauma-related memories/beliefs |
| Are postpartum mothers at higher risk? | #N/A |
| How much higher is the risk? | Among women with ACEs, pooled postpartum PTSD incidence 22.6% |
| How often can it be missed? | #N/A |
| Does it show up differently among postpartum mothers? | Strong Yes |
| How might it look different? | Birth experience, infant crying/touch, feeding, sleep loss and fear of repeating one's upbringing may activate unresolved trauma |
| What commonly occurs alongside it? | #N/A |
| What can it be confused with? | Postpartum PTSD/depression/anxiety; normal adjustment; current intimate-partner violence |
| Common screening tool | ACE Questionnaire — Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire |
| Separate screening tool for postpartum mothers | None established |
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