Clinicians' Perspectives on Providing Trauma‐Informed Perinatal Care

Given the prevalence of pregnant people who have experienced trauma and its impact on mental and physical health, a trauma-informed care (TIC) approach to perinatal care is critically needed. The purpose of this study was to understand how to mitigate retraumatization in a clinical setting and the critical role that TIC may have among perinatal patients. Using a qualitative descriptive design, we conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with 23 perinatal clinicians, including nurse-midwives, obstetrician-gynecologists, advanced practice registered nurses, and a family physician. Emergent themes included: (1) Manifestations of trauma in perinatal care, and (2) Resist retraumatization. Participants reflected on the various ways in which trauma can manifest in perinatal care and the importance of identifying patient strengths and resilience and individualizing care. Our findings underscore the importance of applying universal trauma precautions and a trauma-informed approach to resist retraumatization and support resilience in all patient interactions.