<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec><h3>Background</h3>
<p>The experience of a neonate hospitalised in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is an understandably traumatic experience for the parents, especially, for the mothers of neonates. This mental distress resulting from preterm birth and/or NICU hospitalisation can be understood as post-traumatic symptomatology, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 version. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the admission of a neonate to the NICU (from any reason) on the development of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of women after cesarean sections.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Material and methods</h3>
<p>A total of 469 women who gave birth with cesarean section from July 2019 to June 2020 participated in this study, from the original sample of 490 women who consented to participate. Data were obtained from the researcher's socio-demographic questionnaire, the past traumatic Life Events Checklist, the perinatal stressor Criterion A, and the Post-Traumatic Stress Checklist from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 version.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Results</h3>
<p>A percentage of 46.64% of sample experienced postpartum PTSD. Factors associated with PTSD were placenta previa type4, abruption, bleeding (β = .07, p = .049), premature contractions (β = .08, p = .039), heavy medical history or previous gynecological history and preeclampsia (β = .08, p = .034), abnormal heart rate, premature rupture of membrane, premature contractions, infections (β = .14, p = .004), life of child in danger (β = .12, p = .025), complications involving child (β = .15, p = .002), complications involving both (child and mother) (β = .12, p = .011), traumatic cesarean section (β = .041, p &lt; .001) and prematurity (β = .12, p = .022).</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Conclusions</h3>
<p>Additional measures must be taken for mothers of children who have been admitted to the NICU with psychological support interventions and reassessment of their mental state.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Background
The experience of a neonate hospitalised in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is an understandably traumatic experience for the parents, especially, for the mothers of neonates. This mental distress resulting from preterm birth and/or NICU hospitalisation can be understood as post-traumatic symptomatology, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 version. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of the admission of a neonate to the NICU (from any reason) on the development of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of women after cesarean sections.

Material and methods
A total of 469 women who gave birth with cesarean section from July 2019 to June 2020 participated in this study, from the original sample of 490 women who consented to participate. Data were obtained from the researcher's socio-demographic questionnaire, the past traumatic Life Events Checklist, the perinatal stressor Criterion A, and the Post-Traumatic Stress Checklist from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 version.

Results
A percentage of 46.64% of sample experienced postpartum PTSD. Factors associated with PTSD were placenta previa type4, abruption, bleeding (β = .07, p = .049), premature contractions (β = .08, p = .039), heavy medical history or previous gynecological history and preeclampsia (β = .08, p = .034), abnormal heart rate, premature rupture of membrane, premature contractions, infections (β = .14, p = .004), life of child in danger (β = .12, p = .025), complications involving child (β = .15, p = .002), complications involving both (child and mother) (β = .12, p = .011), traumatic cesarean section (β = .041, p < .001) and prematurity (β = .12, p = .022).

Conclusions
Additional measures must be taken for mothers of children who have been admitted to the NICU with psychological support interventions and reassessment of their mental state.

The Involvement of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Other Perinatal Factors in Postpartum PTSD After Cesarean Section

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Journal of Mother and Child

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Background
The experience of a neonate hospitalised in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is an understandably traumatic experience for the parents,...

The Involvement of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Other Perinatal Factors in Postpartum PTSD After Cesarean Section

Article Category: Original article

Pubblicato online: 03 nov 2023

Pagine: 158 - 167

Ricevuto: 23 mag 2023

Accettato: 21 set 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34763/jmotherandchild.20232701.d-23-00056

Parole chiave
Neonatal intensive care unit, NICU, postpartum PTSD, birth trauma, cesarean section, hospitalised neonate, traumatic birth experience

© 2023 Eirini Orovou et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The Involvement of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Other Perinatal Factors in Postpartum PTSD After Cesarean Section

Article Category: Original article

Pubblicato online: 03 nov 2023

Pagine: 158 - 167

Ricevuto: 23 mag 2023

Accettato: 21 set 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34763/jmotherandchild.20232701.d-23-00056

Parole chiaveNeonatal intensive care unit, NICU, postpartum PTSD, birth trauma, cesarean section, hospitalised neonate, traumatic birth experience

© 2023 Eirini Orovou et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Parole chiave
Neonatal intensive care unit, NICU, postpartum PTSD, birth trauma, cesarean section, hospitalised neonate, traumatic birth experience