The Effect of a Psychoeducation-Based Intervention Administered to Pregnant Women with Traumatic Childbirth Perceptions on Maternal Bonding, Breastfeeding, and Postpartum Depression Levels

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a psychoeducation-based intervention delivered during the prenatal period to pregnant women with a traumatic perception of childbirth on their traumatic childbirth perception, maternal bonding, breastfeeding, and postpartum depression. This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted between April 2023 and May 2024 at the antenatal outpatient clinic of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of a metropolitan training and research hospital. The research sample consisted of 80 pregnant women (40 intervention group and 40 control group). Data were collected using an Introductory Information Form, the Traumatic Childbirth Perception Scale (TCPS), Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS), Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form (BSES-SF) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Participants in the intervention group attended five 50-minute group psychoeducation sessions held at one-week intervals. Following the psychoeducation program, the intervention group demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in their TCPS scores at both the second and final evaluations (p< 0.01). The total MIBS scores of the intervention group were significantly lower than those of the control group (p< 0.01), indicating stronger bonding. The total BSES-SF scores of the intervention group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p< 0.01). Moreover, the total EPDS scores were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p< 0.05). The psychoeducation-based intervention administered to pregnant women with traumatic childbirth perceptions was found to reduce the perception of traumatic childbirth, strengthen maternal–infant bonding, increase breastfeeding self-efficacy, and lower the risk of postpartum depression.