Table 1.

Management strategies. This table summarises suggested management strategies for the pregnant patient with PTSD at different points during the peripartum period. ^†Trauma-informed care practices in healthcare recognise the impact trauma has on individuals and work to promote a culture of safety to prevent retraumatising patients in the medical care setting.

Antepartum	Identify those patients with increased risk for the development of PTSD
	Develop individualised care plans
	Multidisciplinary planning
	Establishment of expectations
	Identification of trauma reminders
	Identify need for psychotherapy
	Strengthen interpersonal relationships
Intrapartum	Optimise pain management (per patient request)
	Trauma-informed care practices†
	Minimise separation from support person/partner
	Adherence to care plan
	Collaborative decision-making
	Use coping skills to minimise the impact of trauma reminders
Postpartum (for any traumatic birth experience)	Acknowledgement of traumatic event, grief/loss, or both
	Follow-up obstetric care regularly over the first year (even if the patient appears asymptomatic)
	Process traumatic experience as desired via compassionate and respectful communication
	Offer referral for emotional and psychological support