Birth trauma

Resources for medical providers

Provider tools and fact sheets

Birth Trauma and Maternal Mental Health fact sheet (MMHLA)

          • Provides key facts on birth trauma and maternal mental health, quotes from women who have experienced birth trauma, factors that contribute to birth trauma, recommended reading, and where to learn more about birth trauma.
          • Watch a free webinar from MMHLA with experts who share research, clinical perspectives, and personal experience with birth trauma and its intersection with maternal mental health.
          • Produced by the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA).

Utah Maternal Mental Health Toolkit (Utah DHHS)

Tools for anyone who works with perinatal parents and their children. The toolkit provides:

          • Information on how to identify and treat perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
          • Patient screening and referral tools.
          • Patient-focused handouts.
          • Provider resources for implementation.
          • Crisis-based resources.
          • Supplemental screening instruments.
          • Links to training videos.

Obstetric Emergencies in Non-Obstetric Settings (ACOG)

  • Resources for emergency department, EMS, and urgent care practitioners to help you better identify and respond to obstetric emergencies.
  • Produced by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG).

Perinatal Mental Health Toolkit (ACOG)

  • A resource that provides information, algorithms, and clinical tools to help you detect, assess, and treat perinatal mood and anxiety disorders among your patients.
  • Produced by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG).

    Caring for Patients Who Have Experienced Trauma (ACOG)

    • Provides recommendations for OB-GYN and other healthcare practitioners about how to recognize the effect of trauma on patients and their healthcare team.
    • Produced by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG).

    Psychiatry consult service (for Utah providers)

    Consultation Access Link Line to Utah Psychiatry (CALL-UP)

    • The Consultation Access Link Line to Utah Psychiatry (CALL-UP) is a free statewide psychiatry consultation service for providers in Utah.
    • Consult hours available Monday through Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Closed holidays)
    • (801) 587-3636
    • [email protected]

    PSI Perinatal Psychiatric Access Line

    • The consultation line is available for medical professionals who are prescribers and have questions about the mental health care related to pregnant and postpartum patients and pre-conception planning.  This consultation service is available for medical providers only.
    • The Perinatal Psychiatric Consult Line is staffed by experts in the field of psychiatry who are members of PSI and specialists in the treatment of perinatal mental health disorders. The service is free and available by appointment.
    • Fill out this form for matching with an appointment. Response time is typically one business day.
    • Call 1-877-499-4773 and leave a voicemail or email [email protected] if you have questions.

      Screening tools for birth trauma

      PTSD-5

      Birth Trauma Scale

      Training for providers on birth trauma and perinatal mental health

      These resources are for doulas, midwives, community health workers, mental health counselors, healthcare providers, public health professionals, and more.

      Using trauma informed communication - Dr. Tracey Vogel

      Clinical simulation to explore what actions by the health care team may make the patient feel less vulnerable. These actions include:

                                  • Patient is uncovered only when necessary
                                  • Patient is kept warm
                                  • Provider explains actions to patient in understandable manner
                                  • Only one task is happening at a time
                                  • Provider checks in with patient confirming understanding
                                  • Provider asks permission from patient
                                  • Room is quiet and distracting conversations are at a minimum
                                  • Support person is not separated from the patient

      Birth trauma training recordings - UWNQC, September 17, 2024

      • Communication strategies - Dr. Tracey Vogel. Speaking trauma: the art of meaningful communication during stressful events.

      Perinatal Mood Disorder Training: Components of Care

      • Postpartum Support International has developed an internationally recognized unique evidence-based training program for health providers and social support networks.

      • The 2-day course is designed for nurses, physicians, social workers, mental health providers, childbirth professionals, social support providers, or anyone interested in learning skills and knowledge for assessment and treatment of perinatal mood disorders. Registration includes a training binder, handouts, and continuing education credits. Approved for CMEs, CNEs, and CEs.

      • You can take the course online or in-person.

      • Once completed, you are eligible and encouraged to be listed on the Utah Maternal Mental Health Referral Network (MMHRN), which is a directory for Utah providers where patients can find local help for depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum.

      Maternal Mental Health Certificate Training for Mental Health and Clinical Professionals

      • This online webinar series includes eight live sessions, small group discussions, supplemental reading materials, 16 continuing education credits (where applicable), and a certificate of completion. Approved for CEUs. Scholarships available. Created by the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health and Postpartum Support International.

      Specific resources for various outcomes

      What is birth trauma?

      Learn more

      Resources for patients, partners, friends, and family

      Learn more

      The Utah Department of Health and Human Services may occasionally link to outside sources of information. DHHS and the state of Utah do not necessarily endorse the provider of the content and are not responsible for any content published on the external site.

      Disclaimer: The material on this website is provided for educational purposes only and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always talk to a doctor or other health care professional. Do not disregard, avoid, or delay obtaining medical or health-related advice from a health care professional because of something you may have read on this site. The use of any information provided on this site is to be used solely at your own risk.