Playing Tetris Can Cut Maternal Postpartum Stress

Women traumatized by an unplanned caesarean section enjoy significant emotional benefit by playing just 15 minutes of the electronic game Tetris during the first 6 hours following delivery of their babies. Swiss obstetricians and psychologists studied 146 women, and approximately half of them played Tetris while the control group was kept busy completing a journal of their activities and thoughts.

All participants were surveyed for PTSD symptoms at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum by clinicians blinded as to the treatment each participant had received. At 6 weeks, the Tetris playing group evidenced only smarginally less PTSD compared with controls. By 6 months, the differences were significant with the Tetris players recording fewer PTSD symptoms and enjoying significantly better moods and cognitive skills.

While the emergent need for a c-section is stressful for expectant mothers and fathers, nearly every childbirth is emotionally trying. That being the case, don’t be afraid to brandish a Tetris game in the immediate aftermath of all such blessed events. Come to think of it, this strategy won’t hurt following any stressful event.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-023-02275-w

#ptsd #tetris #stress #childbirth #emergency #caesarean