Experience of EMDR for previous birth trauma in pregnant people
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative study into the experience of EMDR for a previous birth trauma in people who are pregnant again.
IRAS ID
333043
Contact name
Ariane Dahlheimer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Canterbury Christ Church University, Salomons Institute for Applied Psychology
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
Many women and birthing people have a healthy pregnancy and smooth delivery. However, this is unfortunately not the case for everyone. Research shows that more than 34% of women experience what is called ‘birth trauma’. Birth trauma is defined as “an event occurring during the labour and [birth] process that involves actual or threatened serious injury or death to the mother or her infant. The birthing person experiences intense fear, helplessness, loss of control, and horror”. It is estimated that following a traumatic childbirth between 2% to 21% of women and birthing people meet the diagnostic criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research suggests it is how people make sense of what happened to them that determines whether or not they develop PTSD.
Women and birthing people have reported fewer subsequent children and considering a longer interval before their second child following experiencing a birth trauma. To date, little research has explored how people who have had previous birth trauma experience a subsequent pregnancy.
While there are no guidelines for treating PTSD following birth trauma yet, the NICE guidelines for PTSD specifically recommend Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) or trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. There is emerging evidence of the effectiveness of EMDR therapy in reducing PTSD symptoms following traumatic childbirth.
This qualitative study seeks to understand how individuals experienced and made sense of having EMDR for a previous birth trauma now being pregnant again. Recruitment will take place across five NHS perinatal services in the UK via clinicians as well as posters. Consenting participants will be asked to attend a one-to-one semi-structured interview of about 60-90 minutes with the researcher to answer some questions about their experience of EMDR and the impact it had on themselves and their lives. These interviews will be audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed for themes and patterns.REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NE/0035
Date of REC Opinion
22 Feb 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion