Birth Experience Processing

Adi Afuta | Miriam Hasson

Project Goal:

Preventing postpartum depression and PTSD by early identification of at-risk mothers and facilitating a conversation to process the birth experience.

Project Overview:

Ziv Medical Center serves a diverse and underserved population in Israel’s periphery, where access to mental health support is limited. This project aims to identify mothers in need of emotional support immediately after birth using a screening questionnaire during hospitalization.

Early birth experience processing has been shown to reduce trauma and depression, enhance maternal confidence, and improve infant care. However, many new mothers lack access to timely psychological support due to limited resources, high costs, and logistical challenges. Offering immediate emotional processing in the hospital can provide relief, support physical and emotional recovery, and flag urgent cases for further intervention.

Implementation:

• All postpartum women will complete a questionnaire.

• Trained midwives will review responses and schedule processing sessions as needed.

• Critical cases will be referred to psychiatrists or community follow-up.

• The program will later expand to support women after stillbirths.

Our vision is to integrate this service into routine maternity care, ensuring that every woman receives tailored emotional support during this critical period.