PTSD in Postpartum mothers
| Key things to know | What the evidence shows |
|---|---|
| How common is it? | 4.0% pooled PTSD after birth in community samples |
| Is it more common among postpartum mothers? | Slightly higher pooled community estimate than pregnancy; childbirth itself can be the trauma |
| Are postpartum mothers at higher risk? | Yes, particularly following traumatic birth |
| How much higher is the risk? | Community 4.0%; high-risk 18.5% |
| How often can it be missed? | Very high; symptoms can be mistaken for postpartum anxiety/depression |
| Does it show up differently among postpartum mothers? | Strong Yes |
| How might it look different? | Intrusive birth memories, nightmares, avoidance of reminders/healthcare, hypervigilance about infant or future childbirth |
| What commonly occurs alongside it? | Postpartum depression; anxiety; bonding difficulties |
| What can it be confused with? | Postpartum depression/anxiety; postpartum OCD; acute stress disorder; normal post-birth distress |
| Common screening tool | PCL-5 |
| Separate screening tool for postpartum mothers | City Birth Trauma Scale for childbirth-related PTSD |
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