Trauma Informed Care in the Perinatal Period

The past two decades have seen a convergence of findings across studies of traumatic stress, attachment, and neurobiology, confirming the crucial importance of well-being within the mother-infant dyad for life-long mental and physical health, and for reaching the fullest developmental potential. It is now established that there are intergenerational cycles of childhood maltreatment and psychiatric vulnerability that warrant a prevention approach. Pregnancy is a crucial point of intersection between generations. During pregnancy, women with a childhood maltreatment history have a 12-fold increased risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although awareness of the need for trauma-informed care and trauma-specific interventions is increasing in the fields of addiction and mental health treatment in particular, there are no front-line programmes for the childbearing year that address maltreatment-related PTSD. This edited collection addresses the issues of intergenerational cycles of childhood maltreatment and psychiatric vulnerability by providing a resource to facilitate incorporating trauma-informed care and trauma-specific interventions into maternity services with an emphasis on improving outcomes for childbearing women with a childhood maltreatment history.The book will prove of use to those training for or working in child protection and nursing.