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'Would I risk it again?' The long-term impacts of a traumatic birth, as experienced by fathers.

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Title: 'Would I risk it again?' The long-term impacts of a traumatic birth, as experienced by fathers.
Authors: Charman, Clare (AUTHOR), Masterson, Ciara (AUTHOR), Russell, Amy M. (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology. Jan2026, Vol. 44 Issue 1, p175-189. 15p.
Subjects: Suicide risk factors, Anxiety prevention, Fear, Empathy, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Psychology of fathers, Psychological distress, Mental health, Marriage, Qualitative research, Fathers' attitudes, Interviewing, Masculinity, Psychological adaptation, Emotions, Anxiety, Psychological well-being, Help-seeking behavior, Parenting, Emotional trauma, Thematic analysis, Research methodology, Parent-infant relationships, Childbirth, Avoidance (Psychology)
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
Abstract: Background: Extensive research has explored the impact of traumatic births on mothers, capturing enduring adverse outcomes as well as post-traumatic growth. The literature on fathers' experiences of birth trauma is more limited and little is known of the ongoing impact. The present study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of attending a traumatic birth. Method: Semi-structured interviews were completed with fathers who identified as having a traumatic birth experience two or more years ago. Thematic analysis was conducted on eight interview transcripts. Results: Despite the time since the birth trauma, fathers described ongoing impact, which is captured in five themes. Four of these focus on the negative impacts: their attempts to cope by boxing away emotions, which they thought they should not feel; anxieties over having further children; negative effects on parenting; and ongoing distress or negative impact on their wellbeing. The final theme highlighted some positives from the experience, primarily a strengthened relationship with their partner. Conclusions: Traumatic birth can result in fathers experiencing difficulties beyond the perinatal period, whilst thinking that they should not feel or discuss their distress. As a result of a traumatic birth fathers can experience ongoing guilt and poor mental health, which may lead them to delay subsequent pregnancies. Most participants had not accessed support regarding the traumatic birth, instead coping by trying to avoid their memories and emotional reaction. These findings highlight the need for increased acknowledgement of the impact of birth trauma and intervention for fathers, during and after the perinatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: 'Would I risk it again?' The long-term impacts of a traumatic birth, as experienced by fathers.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Charman%2C+Clare%22">Charman, Clare</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Masterson%2C+Ciara%22">Masterson, Ciara</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Russell%2C+Amy+M%2E%22">Russell, Amy M.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Reproductive+%26+Infant+Psychology%22">Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology</searchLink>. Jan2026, Vol. 44 Issue 1, p175-189. 15p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Suicide+risk+factors%22">Suicide risk factors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anxiety+prevention%22">Anxiety prevention</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fear%22">Fear</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Empathy%22">Empathy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Post-traumatic+stress+disorder%22">Post-traumatic stress disorder</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychology+of+fathers%22">Psychology of fathers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+distress%22">Psychological distress</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+health%22">Mental health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Marriage%22">Marriage</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fathers'+attitudes%22">Fathers' attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interviewing%22">Interviewing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Masculinity%22">Masculinity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+adaptation%22">Psychological adaptation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emotions%22">Emotions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anxiety%22">Anxiety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+well-being%22">Psychological well-being</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Help-seeking+behavior%22">Help-seeking behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parenting%22">Parenting</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Emotional+trauma%22">Emotional trauma</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thematic+analysis%22">Thematic analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+methodology%22">Research methodology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parent-infant+relationships%22">Parent-infant relationships</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Childbirth%22">Childbirth</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Avoidance+%28Psychology%29%22">Avoidance (Psychology)</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom%22">United Kingdom</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Background: Extensive research has explored the impact of traumatic births on mothers, capturing enduring adverse outcomes as well as post-traumatic growth. The literature on fathers' experiences of birth trauma is more limited and little is known of the ongoing impact. The present study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of attending a traumatic birth. Method: Semi-structured interviews were completed with fathers who identified as having a traumatic birth experience two or more years ago. Thematic analysis was conducted on eight interview transcripts. Results: Despite the time since the birth trauma, fathers described ongoing impact, which is captured in five themes. Four of these focus on the negative impacts: their attempts to cope by boxing away emotions, which they thought they should not feel; anxieties over having further children; negative effects on parenting; and ongoing distress or negative impact on their wellbeing. The final theme highlighted some positives from the experience, primarily a strengthened relationship with their partner. Conclusions: Traumatic birth can result in fathers experiencing difficulties beyond the perinatal period, whilst thinking that they should not feel or discuss their distress. As a result of a traumatic birth fathers can experience ongoing guilt and poor mental health, which may lead them to delay subsequent pregnancies. Most participants had not accessed support regarding the traumatic birth, instead coping by trying to avoid their memories and emotional reaction. These findings highlight the need for increased acknowledgement of the impact of birth trauma and intervention for fathers, during and after the perinatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Reproductive & Infant Psychology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=190508575
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/02646838.2024.2346893
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 175
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Suicide risk factors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anxiety prevention
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fear
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Empathy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Post-traumatic stress disorder
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychology of fathers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological distress
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Marriage
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Fathers' attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interviewing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Masculinity
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological adaptation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Emotions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Anxiety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological well-being
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      – SubjectFull: Help-seeking behavior
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      – SubjectFull: Parenting
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      – SubjectFull: Emotional trauma
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thematic analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Parent-infant relationships
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Childbirth
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Avoidance (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: 'Would I risk it again?' The long-term impacts of a traumatic birth, as experienced by fathers.
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            NameFull: Charman, Clare
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            NameFull: Masterson, Ciara
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              Text: Jan2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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