Purpose
This project examines the impact of perinatal dissociation (PD) and birth trauma on mothers’ and infants’ wellbeing during the first two years of life. It aims to address critical gaps in identification and support by developing a PD‑specific screening tool and co‑designing educational resources for parents and clinicians. The tool and resources will support early recognition, intervention, and inform policy recommendations for routine screening in perinatal care.
Background
Perinatal trauma refers to physical and/or psychological distress experienced during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period. Its effects extend beyond the birthing experience, producing a broad “ripple effect” that influences maternal mental health, mother–infant attachment, breastfeeding, and family relationships. Unaddressed perinatal trauma is strongly associated with adverse outcomes for infants, including disruptions to emotional, cognitive, and behavioural development.
An under‑recognised yet clinically significant response to perinatal trauma is dissociation, which occurs in approximately 7–19% of mothers during labour and birth. While dissociation may initially provide psychological protection during overwhelming or traumatic events, its persistence can interfere with emotional engagement, caregiving responsiveness, and bonding with the infant. Dissociative symptoms are among the strongest predictors of subsequent postpartum PTSD, surpassing factors such as pain intensity, mode of delivery, and levels of medical or social support.
Despite its prevalence and importance, PD remains poorly understood. There are currently no validated, birth‑specific screening tools, and longitudinal studies have largely focused on maternal mental health outcomes within the early postpartum period, with limited attention to infant wellbeing. This project directly addresses these gaps through co‑designed research, PD-specific screening tool, and resources to improve early identification, intervention and long-term wellbeing for both mothers and their children.
What this project involves
This program of research comprises five interconnected studies:
- Scoping Review
A comprehensive scoping review will examine how perinatal dissociation is currently conceptualised and measured across the literature. - Co‑design of the Perth Perinatal Dissociation Questionnaire
In partnership with mothers with lived experience and clinicians, we will co‑design the Perth Perinatal Dissociation Questionnaire (PPDQ), the first screening tool specifically developed to assess dissociation during the perinatal period including labour and birth. - Longitudinal Cohort Study
A longitudinal study will follow mothers and their infants for up to two years postpartum to examine the impact of perinatal dissociation on maternal mental health, mother–infant relationship quality, and infant wellbeing. - Co‑designed Educational Resources
Educational and clinical resources will be co‑designed to support mothers in understanding and healing PD, and to assist clinicians in identification and trauma‑informed care pathways. - Pilot Testing and Implementation Evaluation
The newly developed screening tool and resources will be pilot tested with clinicians and mothers to assess feasibility, acceptability, and usefulness, informing policy implementation.