Investigating Midwifery Practice: The Impact of Traumatic Births on Student Midwives' Mental Health (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798275469547)

Midwifery is a profession filled with both joy and challenge. While student midwives share in the profound experience of welcoming new life, they are also vulnerable to the emotional toll of witnessing traumatic births. This literature review investigates the mental health impact of such experiences, drawing on evidence from the UK, Australia, and Turkey.

Through a rigorous search strategy and critical appraisal of recent studies, the book identifies four key themes:

• Witnessing birth trauma is inevitable - exposure to distressing events is part of clinical training.
• Experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions - feelings of sadness, guilt, fear, and helplessness are common.
• Impact on practice and care - secondary stress can affect confidence, compassion, and retention.
• Resisting re-traumatisation - resilience, peer support, and trauma-informed education are essential.

The review highlights the urgent need for trauma-informed care in midwifery curricula, safe spaces for reflection, and organizational policies that replace blame with support. It also explores practical interventions such as peer debriefing, resilience workshops, and emergency training programs.

For student midwives, educators, and healthcare leaders, this book offers a timely synthesis of evidence and recommendations to foster resilience, protect mental health, and ensure compassionate, women-centred care.