Traumatic experiences during pregnancy and birth can have lasting effects on maternal and infant wellbeing, impacting everything from breastfeeding, bonding  and attachment to maternal mental health. While the body of research on the consequences of birth trauma is vast and still growing, literature regarding vicarious trauma in healthcare providers who witness birth trauma is limited.

Program evaluation using an empirically-validated instrument like the Traumatic Stress Institute’s Online ARTIC Scale (ARTIC stands for Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care) gives you insight into whether the training modality you choose is effective for your staff/agency.  “Trauma-informed care” has become a commonly-used term in healthcare settings as research further supports the impact that past trauma has on an individual’s ability to cope with stress (Gokhale et al., 2020).