Speakers
Kate White & Lois Trezise

Speaker Bios
Speaker Bios are provided as separate tabs in the presentation.

Course Description
It has become very clear that maternity services need to include a trauma-informed approach that addresses maternal mental health and birth trauma (O’Neil, S. et al, 2021), and who better to do that than midwives (ACNM, 2022). The United States ranks the highest in maternal mortality and morbidity even though is spends more per capita on health care than other developed nations (OECD, 2020).

Trauma-informed care in the perinatal period is gaining popularity, with maternal care including Adverse Childhood Experiences in prenatal care (Sciolla, A, 2018). Prevention and healing birth trauma may be expanded to include infant experiences as well (Monk,2020). Midwives have a special role in caring for the mother-baby dyad. This presentation will review the role of the midwife in perinatal trauma care and outline a model of care that includes taking a trauma-sensitive history, application of autonomic nervous system responses, integration of prenatal bonding, stress management and connection with the unborn baby, understanding the impact of birth interventions on the family nervous system and what to do about it. It will also include recommendations for birth story review with families postpartum.

Learning Objectives
1. Review the role of the midwife to prevent and treat birth trauma
2. Synthesize a trauma-informed approach from different sources into midwifery practice
3. Identify autonomic nervous system function for threat and stress responses about birth interventions
4. Recognize and integrate the baby’s experience of pregnancy and birth to improve birth outcomes
5. Develop tools for trauma sensitive intake, including integration of trauma-informed approaches and data
6. Describe prenatal bonding and other ways to connect with the baby during pregnancy
7. Illustrate stress relief for pregnant and birthing parents
8. Develop new ways to help birthing parents postpartum to mitigate trauma responses to birth and lactation

CEUs Offered: 1 CE

Course Expiration: March 3, 2024