It matters how you give birth: mode of delivery and mental health

A study published in the latest edition of Archives of Women’s Health has found that instrumental births (those requiring forceps, vacuum extraction, etc.) and cesarean sections are related to a higher number of psychological difficulties after birth – ranging from lack of adjustment to motherhood to post-traumatic stress disorder. To put these conclusions into perspective,…

Women´s perception of traumatic birth: a qualitative study

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes a “positive childbirth experience” as a significant end point for all women undergoing labor. It defines a positive childbirth experience as one that fulfils or exceeds a woman’s prior personal and sociocultural beliefs and expectations, including giving birth to a healthy baby in a clinically and psychologically safe environment…

My body does not forget

By Esther Ramírez Matos, perinatal psychologist and family therapist My body spoke to me again, last night while I was calmly reading a novel about maternity. As a traumatic birth was described, after which mother and infant were separated, I felt an intense pain in my pelvic area; I had not been so uncomfortable in…

Emotional puerperium

By Esther Ramírez Matos, perinatal psychologist and systemic therapist   I remember the day when, with my almost one month old baby in the pediatrician waiting room, I thought for the first time about the concept of puerperium, or postpartum. My healthcare provider had previously explained that this next visit would be with the regular…