A comparative prospective cohort study of women following childbirth: Mothers of low birthweight infants at risk for elevated PTSD symptoms

•Women with low birthweight infants in the NICU reported significantly more PTSD symptoms at 5 and 8 weeks after child birth compared to other groups.•Women undergoing an emergency caesarean had greater PTSD symptoms than vaginal birth women who did not require forceps or vacuum at 26 weeks.•From 8 to 26 weeks there was a significant decrease in symptoms in women having a vaginal birth and women having an infant in NICU care.