The Buzz

Here's what moms are saying

• It helped me out knowing I wasn’t the only one out there, that I wasn’t alone. You just don’t want to talk about it [otherwise].
• This was the most helpful thing I did during pregnancy. It made a big difference, particularly the vignettes—a bigger difference than I expected.
• [The tutor] was awesome.
• I never found it to be too stressful or upsetting. Definitely better than having no programs. [It] opened up doors that made me realize I needed to get help. Big emotional things. I thought I was okay—but I needed to open up the doors . . . [It] relieves a lot of stress.
• Phone is best because [it is] somewhat removed, can share more, a group might be interesting.
• I really liked reading the modules . . . Talking the stories over with tutor . . .
• I liked it because it helped a lot [with] emotions during pregnancy. I’m glad I said yes to the program.
• It really made me think about my experience. Sometimes I had to put the book down. If people want to deal with it, it is really good.
• It’s been very helpful to me because now I understand what posttraumatic stress is and why I worry about stuff that has happened to me and [why] it might bother me a lot to have the doctor have to go down there. That helped me a lot to know that’s not just me; that it’s other women too.
• It brought up memories I thought would upset me, but didn’t as much as I thought they would.
• It gave me more ideas about dealing with certain situations. It was a very good experience.
• It helped me learn more about what was going on, like the posttraumatic stress and everything.
• I enjoyed the vocabulary. It allowed me to talk to different people about it. It allowed me to feel safe giving birth.
• It was a really great experience. I learned a lot about myself, that I have trust issues. Some of those things are PTSD-related. I didn’t test positive [for PTSD], but I was close.
• The SMC was helpful, phone meetings were really great for [discussing] the birth experience and being open. I was able to have good conversation with the nurses.
• It was set up well, letting me pick my own time to talk and everything.

Studies about the SMC

Sperlich M, Seng JS, Rowe H, Cameron H, Harris A, McCracken A, Rauch SA, Bell SA. The Survivor Moms’ Companion: Feasibility, safety, and acceptability of a posttraumatic stress specific psychoeducation program for pregnant survivors of childhood maltreatment and sexual trauma. International Journal of Childbirth. 2011 Jan 1;1(2):122-35.

Seng JS, Sperlich M, Rowe H, Cameron H, Harris A, Rauch SA, Bell SA. The survivor moms’ companion: open pilot of a posttraumatic stress specific psychoeducation program for pregnant survivors of childhood maltreatment and sexual trauma. International Journal of Childbirth. 2011 Jan 1;1(2):111-21.

Rowe H, Sperlich M, Cameron H, Seng J. A quasi‐experimental outcomes analysis of a psychoeducation intervention for pregnant women with abuse‐related posttraumatic stress. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing. 2014 May 1;43(3):282-93.

Here's what tutors are saying

• I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed learning from you and with the cohort in your FIRST ONLINE TRAINING! I thought it went very smoothly for a first try and I am so grateful to have been able to take part in it at this particular time.
• I really appreciated the mentorship and consistent patterns of gentle availability that both of you [Sperlich & Seng] offered--the email reminders, feedback on the Canvas responses, and individualized connecting. You two are clearly powerhouse in empowering and inviting women to growth experiences.