Left on Delivered? An Argument in Defense of Postpartum Posttraumatic Stress Qualifying as A Sub-diagnosis of Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract

Postpartum-PTSD (PP-PTSD) is a mental disorder characterized by a traumatic childbirth experience in which mothers experience significant physical, psychological, and social distress. While typically viewed within the DSM-5’s PTSD framework, it may be possible that the complexity of the disorder is not the best fit in terms of diagnosis and treatment of PP-PTSD. Sociocultural expectations of motherhood greatly impact the mother’s self-identity, ability to self-regulate, and how she may interact in her relationships to others. Therefore, the present manuscript proposes PP-PTSD is viewed within the scope of Complex-PTSD’s (C-PTSD) diagnostic criteria, as it encompasses the difficulties experienced beyond trauma that impact multiple domains of daily functioning. “Left on Delivered” shares a bleak, but realistic illustration of women struggling to come to terms with the traumatic experience that was promised to evoke profound happiness and gratitude.