Past traumatic events: are they a risk factor for high-risk pregnancy, delivery complications, and postpartum posttraumatic symptoms?
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to examine the association among past traumatic events, high-risk pregnancy, delivery complications, and postpartum posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms.


METHODS
The final convenience sample consisted of 1071 Jewish women at midpregnancy. Data were gathered at three time points (during pregnancy and 1 month and 6 months after childbirth) through self-report questionnaires.


RESULTS
There was a higher percentage of high-risk pregnancy among those who reported a history of traumatic events. Although the total score of PTS symptoms did not correspond with high-risk pregnancy, the intrusion and avoidance subscales did. Furthermore, a history of traumatic events as well as prenatal PTS symptoms, prenatal depression, and the subjective pain and distress during delivery accounted for postpartum PTS symptoms. Prenatal depression was found to account for delivery complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings indicate that a history of trauma should be considered a risk factor for high-risk pregnancy and for postpartum PTS symptoms.
Lev-Wiesel
Rachel
R
Professor and Head of the Graduate School of Creative Arts Therapies, Faculty of Welfare and Health Studies, Haifa, Israel. rlev@univ.haifa.ac.il
Chen
Roni
R
Daphna-Tekoah
Shir
S
Hod
Moshe
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000209:etiology; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult