Childbirth is a universal experience, largely regarded as a positive life event. However, adverse experiences (including but not limited to obstetric complications, neonatal complications, birth interventions, and subjective experience of healthcare-provider interactions) during the process of labor and birth have the potential to result in severe psychological disturbance, including childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD). Childbirth is a neuro-psycho-social event, with a complex interplay between neuroendocrinal processes that facilitate labor, birth, and bonding, the subjective experience of the mother and the social complexity of entering motherhood following an adverse childbirth experience. The impact of childbirth trauma can be far-reaching and has implications for maternal psychological well-being, infant development, and the mother-infant relationship. Adequate screening measures to prevent CB-PTSD and identify women experiencing symptoms are needed to ensure optimal outcomes and inform treatment and referral.