The trauma memory is a crucial feature of PTSD etiology and maintenance. Nonetheless, the nature of memories associated with childbirth-related posttraumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD) requires explication. The present study, as part of a larger project on psychological outcomes of childbirth, utilized a multi-method approach to characterize childbirth memories in relation to CB-PTSD symptoms. We here assessed 413 women who completed self-report measures pertaining to CB-PTSD, postpartum depression, and childbirth memories. Additionally, a subset of 209 women provided written childbirth narratives, analyzed using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software. Women endorsing CB-PTSD symptoms on the PTSD-Checklist (PCL)-5 reported more incoherent childbirth memories with more emotional and sensory details, and more frequent involuntary recall and reliving of the memory. They also indicated the childbirth experience was more central to their identity. Written narratives in those with probable CB-PTSD were characterized by less (positive) affective processes, and more cognitive processes. We infer that childbirth memories in women who endorse symptoms of CB-PTSD in the early postpartum period resemble those described in the general PTSD literature. This suggests that childbirth may be experienced as traumatic and evoke a traumatic memory, implicated in symptom endorsement. Opportunities for therapeutic interventions modifying traumatic memories of childbirth in women at risk for CB-PTSD need to be investigated. Future research examining characteristics of traumatic childbirth memories is needed to advance our understanding of this overlooked postpartum condition.

创伤记忆是 PTSD 病因和维持的一个重要特征。尽管如此，与分娩相关的创伤后应激障碍 (CB-PTSD) 相关的记忆的性质需要解释。本研究作为关于分娩心理结果的更大项目的一部分，利用多方法方法来表征与 CB-PTSD 症状相关的分娩记忆。我们在这里评估了 413 名完成与 CB-PTSD、产后抑郁症和分娩记忆有关的自我报告措施的女性。此外，209 名妇女的子集提供了书面分娩叙述，使用语言查询和字数统计软件进行分析。在 PTSD 清单 (PCL)-5 上支持 CB-PTSD 症状的女性报告了更多不连贯的分娩记忆，以及更多的情感和感官细节，以及更频繁地不自觉地回忆和重温记忆。他们还表示，分娩经历对他们的身份更为重要。可能患有 CB-PTSD 的人的书面叙述的特点是较少（积极的）情感过程和更多的认知过程。我们推断，在产后早期认可 CB-PTSD 症状的女性的分娩记忆类似于一般 PTSD 文献中描述的那些。这表明分娩可能会被视为创伤性的并唤起创伤性记忆，这与症状认可有关。需要研究改变有 CB-PTSD 风险的妇女的分娩创伤记忆的治疗干预的机会。