Traumatic childbirth experiences, effects and coping: A qualitative study.

• Obstetric interventions, severe fear, and pain during labour were the contributors to the perception of traumatic birth. • The factors that contribute to the perception of traumatic birth was included negative childbirth environment, and a lack of privacy. • Women were not supported sufficiently by health personnel during childbirth. • Social support was important in coping with traumatic childbirth and its effects. Childbirth experience and perception of birth are personal. It is important to understand how the traumatic childbirth experiences affected women and for the nursing care that would be given to them. The aim of the research was to determine the childbirth experiences perceived by women as traumatic, how they were affected by these experiences, and how they coped. The study was a descriptive phenomenological approach study. The data were obtained through semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews. Content analysis was used in the analysis of the data. The mothers were contacted by using the social media platforms. Sixteen women were included in the research who expressed that they had traumatic childbirth experiences. It was determined that women experienced severe fear and pain during childbirth, that they were in unsuitable maternity hospital environments, and that care was not taken for their privacy. At the same time, it was determined that they experienced disorders in the postpartum period connected to their traumatic birth experiences, that they postponed their pregnancy plans due to their fear of childbirth that developed connected to traumatic childbirth or that they did not want to become pregnant, and that they did not receive sufficient support from health personnel. It is necessary to provide privacy during childbirth, to take into consideration the decisions of women, and to provide for their continuous support by midwives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]