Healing the past by nurturing the future: A qualitative systematic review and metasynthesis of pregnancy, birth and early postpartum experiences and views of parents with a history of childhood maltreatment

C Chamberlain; N Ralph; S Hokke; Y Clark; G Gee; C Stansfield; K Sutcliffe; SJ Brown; S Brennan

Journal article

Healing the past by nurturing the future: A qualitative systematic review and metasynthesis of pregnancy, birth and early postpartum experiences and views of parents with a history of childhood maltreatment

C Chamberlain, N Ralph, S Hokke, Y Clark, G Gee, C Stansfield, K Sutcliffe, SJ Brown, S Brennan

Plos One | PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE | Published : 2019

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225441

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Abstract

Background Child maltreatment can have serious effects on development and physical, social and emotional wellbeing. Any long-lasting relational effects can impede the capacity to nurture children, potentially leading to ‘intergenerational trauma’. Conversely, the transition to parenthood during pregnancy, birth and the early postpartum period offers a unique life-course opportunity for healing. This systematic review aims to understand the pregnancy, birth and early postpartum experiences of parents who reported maltreatment in their own childhood. Methods A protocol, based on the ENTREQ statement, was registered with PROSPERO. We searched Medline, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, NHS Evidence and ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Cath Chamberlain Author

Graham Gee Author

Stephanie Brown Author

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Grants

Awarded by National Science Foundation

Funding Acknowledgements

This review and the Healing the Past by Nurturing the Future project is funded by the Lowitja Institute Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health CRC and the National Health and Medical Research Council (1141593). Catherine Chamberlain receives an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (1161065). Stephanie Brown holds an NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (1103976). Research staff at the MCRI are supported by the Victorian Government's Operational Infrastructure Support Program. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.