Midwife-led post birth debriefing pilot empowers women after childbirth

"Clarifying", "validating" and "empowering" were the words used by women who took part in a midwife-led birth debriefing pilot at Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH), highlighting the value of structured conversations in supporting emotional wellbeing after childbirth.

More than 100 women participated in the pilot, with many valuing the opportunity to discuss their birth experience with a midwife they already knew and trusted.

Developed by FSH Honorary Research Consultant and Edith Cowan University (ECU) Research Fellow Dr Kate Buchanan and codesigned by consumers, the pilot provides women with the opportunity to have a structured conversation with a midwife after birth, creating a safe and supportive space to reflect on their experience, ask questions and discuss any concerns.

The project, which was supported by a Women's and Infants Research Foundation grant, tested a standardised birth debriefing conversation guide developed with input from midwives, managers and maternity advocates.

“Women sometimes leave hospital with unanswered questions about aspects of their birth,” Dr Buchanan said.

“The offer of a compassionate debrief gives them space to make sense of what happened and feel genuinely supported.”

Women reported that the midwife-led birth conversation helped them better understand their birth experience, process emotions, ask unanswered questions and feel more confident and emotionally supported.

The findings highlight the important role maternity services play in supporting not only a woman's physical recovery after childbirth, but also her emotional wellbeing.

For FSH the pilot reflects an additional commitment to delivering holistic, woman-centred care that supports mothers throughout every stage of their healthcare journey.

The research also identified significant benefits for women who experienced birth trauma.

Women who self-identified as having experienced birth trauma rated the opportunity to talk with a midwife about their birth experience higher than any other aspect measured in the survey.

“Talking with a midwife about a birth experience may help alleviate feelings of trauma, either by fostering a better understanding of what happened or by facilitating referral to psychological support,” Dr Buchanan said.

"Providing women with the opportunity to talk about and reflect on their birth experience is the first step. If a woman chooses not to participate, other support options and referrals can be arranged to ensure she receives the follow-up care most appropriate to her needs."

“Talking about the birth is a crucial step in supporting emotional wellbeing, helping women better understand their experience, address any unanswered questions and feel empowered after childbirth,” Dr Buchanan said.

Following the success of the FSH pilot, researchers from ECU are planning to test the model nationally to explore how midwife-led birth debriefing could be implemented more broadly across Australian maternity services, helping shape the future of compassionate, patient-centred postnatal care.

Find the full study, Co-design and feasibility testing of a midwife-led birth debrief: an implementation science project, published in BMC Public Health.

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