TABS - Articles by our Contributors, Links |
To read any of the publications below, you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. Click on the links and an Adobe PDF file will open automatically, if you have the Adobe software installed. If your computer does not have this software installed on it, you can download a free copy from Adobe using the link at the bottom of the page.
Many people have helped TABS by providing useful information. Following are some articles that you might find helpful:
TABS has been pleased to collaborate with in conjunction with Professor Cheryl Beck from the University of Connecticut USA in the recruitment of participants for studies into post partum PTSD, with the Chairperson of TABS variously co-researching and co-authoring recent documents. For details of these articles, click here.
Full text of article in Little Treasures Magazine, August September 2000. In the November 2003 edition of Treasures is a further article about TABS.
Dereck Souter provides a comment on this topic.
Traumatic Stress Disorder and Childbirth: Judy Crompton comments on the potentially traumatic nature of childbirth and the implications of that for midwifery.
PTSD/risk factors questionnaire, watchlist and treatment hints: a resource by Judy Crompton for use by midwives at first Antenatal consultation.
Joan Donley considers some impacts of the increased role of technology in maternity care.
Unhappiness after Childbirth: Sheila Kitzinger, 17 March 2003.
Childbirth and Emotional Trauma - Why it's Important to Talk Talk Talk: Delphin Swalm considers some of the differences between Post Natal/Post Partum Depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Going Crazy - a reasonable response? Debbie Hager explores how Trauma can develop in the context of domestic violence. While related to different circumstances, this study, quite apart from its own message, offers helpful insights into how trauma develops and how it can be treated. For more information, see www.hedrovememad.com, an on-line support group that provides women with a safe place to share experiences of madness and substance abuse caused by domestic violence.
On 28/5/03, the Guardian (UK) published a story entitled "Hard Labour" - thanks to James Meikle of the Guardian, for his help in following up on the press release kindly brought to our attention. The article is a well-documented account of PTSD and its impacts. One of the writers, Steven Joseph, has kindly made available to us the article he wrote in conjunction with Dawn Bailham: Post-traumatic stress following childbirth: a review of the emerging literature and directions for research and practice, published in Psychology, Health and Medicine, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2003.
The Unspeakable Trauma of Childbirth, an article that appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald on 5 June 2003.
Childbirth and the development of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Gillian White, from Massey University, comments on the interrelationship of PTSD and childbirth, and the differences between PTSD and PND/PPD.
The Emotional Scars of Cesarean Birth: VBAC have kindly provided a copy of this article from their website.
Greater awareness of stress disorder needed: An article on childbirth-related PTSD from NZ Doctor Magazine.
JOAN DONLEY'S COMPENDIUM FOR A HEALTHY PREGNANCY AND A NORMAL BIRTH, Joan Donley: Auckland, 2003, vi & 402 pp: this book covers a very wide range of birth-related topics, based on her research, experience and practice. Joan was an internationally acclaimed advocate for normal birth.
This book is available from the Women's Bookshop for $39.95 excluding postage and packaging.
HER FOUNDATION - Hyperemisis Education And Research Foundation: An excellent article on ptsd and childbirth ?"With the advances in nutrition and fluid replacements, most women survive hyperemesis gravidarum with fewer life-threatening complications. However, being treated and surviving hyperemesis can cause psychological problems for some people."
Debriefing: care and sympathy are not enough ... Psychological first aid after traumatic events does not prevent later psychological disorders.
By Alexander C McFarlane
Check out this article, which discusses the ineffectiveness of debriefing after trauma. ? however we at Tabs, would continue to emphasise the need for mothers to be able to talk about their trauma, when they are ready, but not a prescribed time or format.
Medical Journal Australia: MJA 2003; 178 (11): 533-534
Another perspective on how post-partum PTSD comes about: www.medscape.com/viewarticle/475434_1. Register free and read the article on-line.
Anne Lehnardt-Wheeler reflects on the importance of knowledge of PTSD in Childbirth.
Sarah Allen has kindly provided us with a copy of her published article, "A qualitative analysis of the process, mediating variables and impact of traumatic childbirth."
The Birth Trauma Association has contributed an article about PTSD.
Naturo Pharm, a generous sponsor of TABS, regularly contribute articles:
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder And Childbirth: Influences On Breastfeeding by Bev Pownall.
This article, recently printed in Issues, is reproduced here.
Acute and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder After Spontaneous Abortion by Stephen V. Bowles, MAJ, MS, USA
http://www.aafp.org/afp/20000315/1689.html
Maternal posttraumatic stress response after the birth of a very low-birth-weight infant - a new article
This article, by Kersting A, Dorsch M, Wesselmann U, Ludorff K, Witthaut J, Ohrmann P, Hornig-Franz I, Klockenbusch W, Harms E, Arolt V., considers "the traumatic aspect of the maternal experience after very low-birth-weight."
Some useful publications from the United Kingdom . . . The UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published two exellent booklets about PTSD: the treatment of PTSD in adults and children and the management of PTSD in adults and children in primary and secondary care.
Effectiveness of a Counseling Intervention after a Traumatic Childbirth: A Randomized Controlled Trial by Dr Jenny Gamble.
To view an abstract of this article (you will need to pay for a full copy of the article), go to http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.0730-7659.2005.00340.x
Skulls at the Banquet or an Angel at My Table: Near Birth as Nearing Death . . . by Gregg Lahood
This article, considers "psychological encounters with death reported by procreative fathering males in New Zealand and other Western cultures catalysed by their nearness to the birth of their perinatally engaged children and labouring partners."
This article is currently unavailable on this website, however, to obtain the text of the article, please email Gregg.
Midwives' Experiences of Working with Highly Anxious Childbearing Women by Maureen Hammond.
This is a thesis by Maureen Hammond examining the pressures on midwives when they cared for highly anxious clients.
Birth Trauma and Beyond, Trans/personal Events During Birth Giving, by Gregg Lahood.
Thesis on PTSD, by Rochel Levine.
Report on findings on survey on coping after negative events, by Lorna Irving, Royal Holloway, University of London.
More is coming out on this topic all the time. Perhaps the easiest place to keep up to date is the Internet. Using a search engine such as Google, you can view an ever-increasing number of sites dealing with PTSD in various contexts. The most helpful combination words is "PTSD" and "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder" in conjunction with "childbirth." As you investigate, other useful terms will no doubt occur to you.
Writing about Post Natal PTSD/other Maternal Mental Health issues?
Contact ralph@actionediting.nz. Ralph is one of the Trustees of TABS. Webmaster since this site's launch, he now offers editing and proofreading services. Find out more about Action Editing.