The Birth Trauma Cycle: expanding understanding of birth trauma

Psychological birth trauma is a prevalent phenomenon experienced by many individuals during childbirth. This article introduces the Birth Trauma Cycle, a conceptual framework that integrates Rothschild's stages of trauma and feminist trauma theory in order to understand birth trauma as a continuum across the perinatal period. The Birth Trauma Cycle aims to highlight both individual and structural components of birth trauma. A case example from a larger phenomenological study is used to demonstrate its application. The Birth Trauma Cycle emphasises the importance of considering various aspects of an individual's birthing world and the events leading up to and following a traumatic birth. Applying an intersectional feminist trauma lens can help healthcare professionals to connect the personal with the political and consider broader systemic factors when caring for women who have experienced birth trauma.