Childbirth as a Stressfull Event and Expressive Writing

The focus of this research is the interpretation of childbirth as a stressful and traumatic event per se, not only due to the physical pain, anxiety, fears, worries and uncertainties connected to it, but also as a social and personal experience which is not completely mentally processed.A typical population of 130 pregnant women (Mean age =31.47; SD= 4.23) with a stable affective relationship was selected. The sample was constructed so as to exclude women with pregnancy-related problems, and/or with pre-partum PTSD symptoms, and or with newborns suffering. To assess the specific stress symptoms post-partum the PPQ (Perinatal PTSD Questionnaire was administered in the 10 days after childbirth and at three months.The results showed, in the days immediately after childbirth the presence of feelings of sadness, fear, worry, the tendency to cry, and in general a state of greater emotional vulnerability, marked by Intrusive symptoms. After three months these symptoms decreased but emerged the propensity to deny, to avoid together with the hyperarousal and depressive symptoms.