Oxfordshire psychologist says we need to break down the taboo of birth trauma

An Oxfordshire psychologist that supports mums who've experienced traumatic births says we need to break down the taboo around discussing it openly and is encouraging people to speak to someone they trust.

It's as we revealed around one in twenty new mums develop PTSD as a result of complications during birth, after our interview with Louise Thompson on her experience.

What is birth trauma?

Birth trauma is an issue that impacts up to 30,000 women every single year, leaving 4-5% of new mums dealing with PTSD, an issue coming at a time people are told will be one of the happiest of their lives.

Each case can be very different. Some reflect very long or very short labours, others are about physical issues while some are to do with thoughts and emotions.

Some birth trauma can be about concerns for baby's health, while others are about issues with the level of care on offer to mums at the time.

Around one in 20 new mums will develop PTSD as a result of their experience, and around 1% of birth partners also develop issues as a result of what they've witnessed from a bedside.

“Worried that somebody might say we'll have to take your baby away”

Dr Rebecca Knowles Bevis is a perinatal clinical psychologist supporting parents who have experienced traumatic births and explains that there's still a stigma stopping people from opening up.

She said: “We think of birth culturally as sort of positive experience, something that should be a happy experience. So, to feel that it wasn't that or to be having very different kinds of feelings about your birth, whether that's fear or guilt or shame or anger, all of which are really common emotional responses to trauma, can make it unbelievably difficult to talk about. Especially when everyone around you is expecting it to have been positive.”

Dr Knowles Bevis added: “I think there's also a really powerful sense for parents, that if they were to share difficult, uncomfortable, or frightening feelings, that somebody might judge them, not able to take care of their baby.

“Lots and lots of women will say that it took them months and months to tell somebody how they were feeling because they were worried that somebody might say we'll have to take your baby away.”

Louise Thompson’s story:

Made in Chelsea's Louise Thompson has also been sharing her birth trauma story, and is on a mission to normalise the conversation about the topic after her experience with her son Leo.

Louise had to undergo an emergency operation, and her new son was delivered by emergency caesarean. To compound the situation he also stopped breathing for a short time and two separate haemorrhages saw Louise lose 'litres' of blood.

Further health complications later meant Louise have her colon removed, and a stoma fitted.

Dr Kim Thomas from the Birth Trauma Association encouraging people who've been affected by birth trauma to talk about it, and to give people ideas around how to listen to those who want to speak out.

Speaking to Louise, Dr Kim said: "It's really important that you speak up, or that other people speak up for you.

"You've been through a really traumatic experience, you deserve to be heard, and you need to be gentle with yourself...I'd really urge people to get help if they can, because therapeutic help is the best way of getting through this.

Listen to the full interview here:

https://hellorayo.co.uk/podcasts/hits-radio-talks/id-2255062/embed/

Where you can find support if you're affected by birth trauma

If you've been impacted by birth trauma, and want to see what help is out there, the Birth Trauma Association has email support and a helpline you can call. They can also provide access to a private Facebook group.

Bliss offers support for people affected by sick or premature babies.

And there's more information about birth trauma, and further links to support via Make Birth Better.