A qualitative investigation of the experiences and impact of negative healthcare provider interactions during a traumatic birth

Background: The experience of birth trauma is common and can have a detrimental impact on a birthing person’s psychosocial wellbeing. Research exploring the aetiology of birth trauma has highlighted that negative interactions with healthcare providers is a key risk factor for birth trauma. However, there is limited research exploring the nature of these interactions within the context of NHS maternity services.

Aims: The current study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of how birthing people experience negative interactions with healthcare providers and how negative interactions may contribute to the experience of birth trauma.

Method: Eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted with birthing people who had given birth using NHS services in the last five years. These were analysed using a thematic analysis.

Results: The study identified three main themes: 1) hospital centred care 2) power and the maternity system 3) the lasting impact.

Conclusion: The study findings indicate that negative interactions with healthcare providers during childbirth is central to the experience of birth trauma. Negative interactions were associated with a lack of personalised care and the epistemic privileging of healthcare providers. The experience of negative interactions had a significant impact on participants’ wellbeing and altered their trust in health systems.