Study finds pressure for natural birth harms women's mental health
University of Reading research highlights psychological impact of unmet birth expectations
A new study by the University of Reading reveals that societal pressure on women to have a natural birth is causing lasting psychological harm when expectations are unmet.
The research, published in the journal Social Science & Medicine, provides insight into how antenatal classes, social media, and healthcare messaging contribute to feelings of shame and self-blame in women who experience complications or require medical intervention during birth.
These pressures are linked to an increase in mental health crises among post-natal women, as detailed in the upcoming BBC Panorama episode ‘Maternity Failures: The Fight for Justice’ airing on 1st June.
Findings of the Study
Rebecca Matthews, the study's lead author and PhD researcher, explained that the messages given to pregnant women create a moral benchmark that equates natural, unmedicated vaginal birth with being a good mother.
The study highlights how birth ideology starts early in pregnancy, setting unrealistic expectations and leading to self-recrimination when outcomes differ.
Matthews said, “These women were not failed by their bodies; they were failed by the messages they were given.”
Voices of Experience
The study involved interviews with 21 first-time mothers in the UK whose births did not go as planned.
Women shared stories of profound psychological effects resulting from these pressures.
Alexandra, for instance, needed an emergency caesarean and felt she had not given birth "properly."
Maggie questioned why her body couldn’t birth her baby naturally after an unplanned caesarean.
Elizabeth felt she had "ruined" her relationship with her baby due to separation right after birth, driven by messages emphasising immediate skin-to-skin contact.
These narratives illustrate the internalised pressure and moral judgement women face.
Recommendations and Reform
The researchers urge a reformation in antenatal education, advocating for treating all birth outcomes as equally valid paths to motherhood.
Additionally, they recommend enhanced postnatal psychological screening for women whose births did not meet their expectations, specifically addressing shame and self-blame.
The findings build on previous reports from the Kirkup, Ockenden, and Birth Trauma Inquiry, identifying antenatal messaging as a primary contributor to preventable psychological harm.
The research underscores the need for systemic changes in how birth is discussed and prepared for in order to protect women’s mental well-being.
The study received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.