“It is such a physically and mentally vulnerable time for a woman and I am always astounded at the minimal care and support offered…that is not a dig at the NHS, more a sociological analysis of the way childbirth is viewed culturally. It’s supposed to be the most natural thing in the world, right? And women must just naturally know what to do and deal with it…except it is the most profound physiological, mental and emotional experience any human (woman) will go through. Doesn’t that deserve the most amount of care?”

 

During Birth Trauma Awareness week 2017, I received 75 birth stories from women all over the UK who wanted to share their birth experiences. Some were positive, some were deeply traumatic and many were difficult where clearly they didn’t need to be. These were stories of women affected months later by the lack of empathy of a member of staff, or left questioning why a particular intervention was done, or feeling cheated by the stories of birth we hear before giving birth ourselves. 

 

I analysed these stories (using a grounded theory methodology for those interested), and five themes emerged - ‘A Force Bigger Than Me’ (the physical impact of birth), ‘Heroes and Villains’ (the influence of birth professionals), ‘Delivery into Parenthood’ (the wider ranging impact on mental health and relationships), ‘I Had No Idea’ (the culture of secrecy around birth and birth trauma and ‘Make Birth Better’ (ideas to improve birth). 

 

As stories continue to be sent into the site, I will continue to read them to see if new ideas come out. As so many questions were raised through the reading of the stories, I also sent a number of questions to obstetricians, midwives and other birth professionals which you can read here. 

 

While it was clear throughout reading your stories that maternity services are under great pressure, what was immensely hopeful was the tiny changes that could make enormous differences to women. Personally, as birthing women and friends of birthing women and professionally, as midwives, doctors, doulas and supporters of women and their partners - let’s lead the shift to make birth better. 

 

Please note that some of the descriptions given here are highly upsetting, and I would urge you not to read them if you have experienced a trauma which you do not feel has been resolved - or even if you feel they might be upsetting. All of the themes have been added as separate pages so you can click through to them - or avoid them if you prefer. For those who would like to avoid potentially triggering information, I would suggest that you particularly avoid the first theme of the physical impact of labour.                                        - Emma 

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