Unlike other traumatic events, there are still few studies exploring perinatal or birth-related trauma. Evidence suggests that up to 30% of women describe their birth experience as traumatic. Meta-analyses show that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects 4% of women after birth and up to 18% of women in high-risk groups. In 2016, 5.11 million babies were born in Europe. Estimates point to about 1.5 million women who may have had traumatic experiences and over 200.000 may have developed PTSD.

The work developed in this Cost Action has two main objectives. The Action will establish an international multidisciplinary network of researchers, health professionals, NGOs, and SMEs to consolidate and disseminate current evidence and coordinate a joint effort to seek ways to prevent, minimise and treat birth-related traumas, contributing to the management of emotional and psychological aspects. The aim is to turn new knowledge into good practices that can be shared by health institutions in the community.