Posttraumatic Growth After Birth Trauma: "I Was Broken, Now I Am Unbreakable".
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate women's experiences of posttraumatic growth following traumatic childbirth.


METHODS
A descriptive phenomenological study was conducted using Colaizzi's data analysis method. The Internet sample of 15 mothers was recruited from the Trauma and Birth Stress Web site. Women were asked to describe in as much detail as they could remember, their experiences of any positive changes in their beliefs or life as a result of their traumatic childbirth.


RESULTS
Using Calhoun and Tedeschi's metaphor of an earthquake to help explain posttraumatic growth, the seismic waves of birth trauma had enough power to lead to four themes of posttraumatic growth revealed in this phenomenological study: (1) Opening oneself up to a new present, (2) Achieving a new level of relationship nakedness, (3) Fortifying spiritual-mindedness, and (4) Forging new paths.


CONCLUSIONS
Mothers' experiences of their personal growth after birth trauma can help inform future research that can promote posttraumatic growth in mothers. Clinicians can share results of this study with their patients to provide some hope to mothers struggling with the aftermath of a traumatic birth that some women have reported positive growth. Healthcare providers need to respect trauma survivors' struggles while at the same time permitting mothers to explore possibilities for growth. Clinicians must not, however, create the false expectation that posttraumatic growth will happen in most trauma survivors.
Cheryl Tatano Beck is a Distinguished Professor, University of Connecticut, School of Nursing, Storrs, CT. She can be reached via e-mail at Cheryl.beck@uconn.edu Sue Watson is the Chairperson, Trauma and Birth Stress.
Cheryl Tatano
CT
Beck
Sue
S
Watson
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D009035:Mothers; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012648:Self Care; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*