Childbirth as a traumatic event for attendant fathers.

Negative reactions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth have been increasingly reported in mothers, particularly following objectively and subjectively difficult childbirth experiences. A small body of research has examined fathers' reactions to childbirth, with mixed results. The study aimed to further these studies, investigating whether objective and subjective aspects of fathers' participation in childbirth were related to levels of PTSD and fear of childbirth symptoms, in the first year following childbirth.

Childbirth, trauma and family relationships.

Childbirth is a major life event with expected positive outcomes, yet for some women postnatal psychopathological symptoms may harm women's interpersonal relationships. We hypothesized that higher levels of postnatal depression, post-traumatic stress (PTSD) symptoms, and fear of childbirth would be associated with mother-baby bond disorders and relationship dissatisfaction in couples. A cross-sectional self-report online questionnaire was used to survey partnered women who had delivered in the year prior to the study.