Birth satisfaction and symptoms of postpartum post traumatic stress disorder among women in Iceland

Background: Childbirth is a significant life event and a life changing experience for most women but can sometimes have a negative psychological effect. Women can develop symptoms of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth, even if the birth was without complications. Causes and risk factors for postpartum PTSD can be many and until now, it has not been measured with questionnaires which are designed to evaluate it. Postpartum PTSD can have an impact on the mother-infant bonding, breastfeeding and affect the mother’s life and feelings. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors for postpartum PTSD among women in Iceland 6-12 weeks after birth, as well as to assess if there is a connection between birth satisfaction and symptoms of postpartum PTSD. Methods: The data came from an international cross-sectional study, Intersect. Participants were women in Iceland who gave birth to a living child, 6-12 weeks after childbirth. A total of 600 women were in the study sample. Symptoms of postpartum PTSD were measured with the City Birth Trauma Scale (CityBiTS) and birth satisfaction was measured with the Birth Satisfaction Scale Revised (BSS-R)