Outpatient Care Consultation for Previous Birth Trauma  at Piedmont Athens

Beginning May 14, 2024, the Piedmont Athens Regional Women’s and Children’s Department will be offering OB Care Consultations for patients with a history of birth trauma, perinatal loss or abuse. OB Care Consultations offer a thoughtful and unified approach to the care and support of laboring mothers still healing from post-traumatic stress caused by a prior difficult birthing experience.

As a mediator, liaison and patient advocate for this individual, the RN consultant meets with each patient and their support team, talks through past birthing experiences, explores possible triggers that may occur during the upcoming birth, and creates a comprehensive plan of support for when the patient arrives to deliver.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), 45% of new mothers in the United States report experiencing some type of birth trauma, which can often lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. We know the rate is even higher in patients with a history of abuse or an attack.

If and when these patients decide to have a baby, whether their first or not, the memories of that past trauma can lead to fear when returning to the birthing unit. We at the hospital have the ability to support these patients uniquely. While we aren’t able to control every aspect of birth, some factors can be planned and supported.

About the Program

This program is currently specific to patients with a history of birth trauma, perinatal loss and/or history of abuse who are currently pregnant and planning to deliver at Piedmont Athens Regional. The patient can be of any gestational age. This service is free, with no need for billing or payment.

The patient, their support team and the nurse talk through past experiences and identify potential triggers. Together, they create a birthing advocacy, action and safety plan as a partnership with you and your hospital birthing team. The patient is given a copy of the OB Care plan, and a copy is kept in Labor and Delivery.

Examples of controllable factors are what room to deliver in, a specific operating room if they know they are having a c-section, positioning during delivery, pain management and creating a support team.

Location

The consultation takes place in a neutral meeting room in the new Talmadge Tower of Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital. The nurse, dressed in plain clothes, meets the patient and their support team at the end of the second-floor bridge coming from the Talmadge parking deck.

Scheduling a Consultation

The patient’s OB provider or office schedules the consultations via phone at 706-475-3333. There are eight available meeting times each month - four in the morning, four in the evening - with each lasting up to one hour.

If you have general questions or need more information, please reach out to Jennifer Banks, RNC at [email protected]