Such strong feelings increase the risk and severity of the emotional stress felt by the midwife in case of an undesirable or traumatic circumstance. There is a strong bond between midwives, birthing women, and the birth process, in which intense emotions are experienced 1. The two most significant components of professional midwifery care at birth are compassion and empathy. While it is mothers and/or fetus/neonate who experience the trauma at birth, midwives who care for mothers and communicate with them emotionally and empathically are also witnessing this trauma. Therefore, complications occurring during childbirth can create a situation that fits the post-traumatic stress criteria of the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5.
Although childbirth is considered to be a positive life experience, adverse events occurring during the intra-natal period may increase the risk for maternal, fetal, and neonatal mortality and morbidity 4. Thus, it causes individuals to experience loss of control and fear 3. It suddenly occurs without any symptoms and weakens the individual’s defence mechanisms. It does not have to occur due to a major disaster, but it carries an elevated risk of the stress response 2.
A traumatic event is defined as an unpleasant event that may result from an injury, violence, or emotional shock 1.
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