Birth Trauma Awareness Week 2025
This week (14-20 July) is Birth Trauma Awareness Week (BTAW) 2025, and this year’s theme is ‘Inequalities in Maternity Care’.
This week is all about raising awareness around physical and psychological trauma experienced during childbirth as well as providing support and recognition to those affected. Many women suffer in silence thinking trauma after birth is ‘normal’ or something to just get over. Raising awareness can help validate experiences, reduce shame, and guilt and improve access to care and support.
Our Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service (PETALS) is a psychologically led service dedicated to supporting women and families who have experienced traumatic birth or are experiencing fear related to pregnancy or childbirth. Specialists within PETALS have put together information on BTAW below.
You can learn more about BTAW at Birth Trauma Awareness Week — Birth Trauma Association.
What is birth trauma?
Birth trauma refers to physical and psychological distress caused due to traumatic birth experiences, by single or mixture of events from conception, pregnancy, labour and birth. It can lead to Post Traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD), postnatal anxiety/depression and long-term fear of birth (Tokophobia).
Some of the cases of birth trauma are:
- Lack of informed consent or communication during procedures.
- Emergency or unexpected procedures. This involves lack of control and decisions around birth.
- Neglect, mistreatment or negative experiences of healthcare.
Understandably, these experiences can be incredibly difficult and can have a lasting impact on a person. These experiences are common during this time. Talking to someone about how we’re feeling can help us to feel less alone and can be the first step to accessing further support if we need it.
Black, Indigenous, and ethnic minority women are more likely to experience birth trauma complications. In the UK, black women are nearly four times more likely to die during childbirth than white women. Women with limited English proficiency or with disability may find it difficult to communicate their needs, understand procedures or give informed consent.
Impact of birth trauma and inequalities in maternity care:
- It damages maternal mental health and parent child bonding. It leads to avoidance of future pregnancies or elective C-section.
- It can worsen healthcare distrust in marginalised communities.
- It can be difficult to talk about mental health difficulties under any circumstances. Perinatal mental health experiences can be especially difficult to share with others, particularly when we have the perception that other parents are coping. We may think we are expected to only feel joy and love when we have a new baby, however everybody will experience a range of different emotions.
We hope BTAW can help us to start these conversations, connect with others, and reach out for support.
Literature resources
Birth trauma and PTSD
PTSD following childbirth can affect anyone, but the risk can increase when the mother experiences the loss of control during birth, lack of support or when there is perceived threat or real threat to her or the baby. History of trauma, abuse, or mental health issues or if birth experiences that do not align with the expectation can also lead to symptoms of PTSD.
Symptoms of PTSD:
- Intrusive memories of the birth this includes flashbacks and nightmares
- Avoidance of anything that reminds you of the birth for example hospital future pregnancies
- Hyper vigilance and anxiety (always feeling on edge and trouble sleeping)
- Emotional numbness or detachment from the baby
- Guilt or shame especially when you feel that they should be happy
What can be helpful:
- Trauma informed therapy which includes eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for Trauma
- Accessing peer support groups
- Debriefing the birth experience with the health care provider
- Involving partners, family, and friends in healing
Support services
PETALS (Perinatal Trauma and Loss Service)
This is a psychologically led service offering therapeutic support to people experiencing trauma (i.e. birth trauma, neonatal trauma).
PETALS also supports people experiencing fear related to pregnancy, childbirth, foetal medicine, hospital/medical settings which is significantly impacting on pregnancy or decisions around reproduction and preventing a person from taking steps towards pregnancy.
Self-referrals and referrals from other health professionals are accepted. For more information, please visit: https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/petals/
Pictured: Colleagues from PETALS
Building Attachments and Bonds Support (BABS)
They support mums and dads who are having difficulty bonding or developing their relationship with their baby. To access support, you will need to be expecting a baby or have a baby or toddler under three years old at the time of referral.
For more information, please visit: https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/building-attachments-and-bonds-support/
Birth Trauma Association
Support for parents who have experienced birth trauma.
Website: https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org/
Email: support@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
Phone: 0203 621 6338
Spoons
Aims to reduce stress and reduce the isolation of families who experience neonatal care by offering support groups, peer support, and psychological therapy.
Website: https://spoons.org.uk/
Phone: 0300 365 0363
Email: care@spoons.org.uk
Dad Matters
Support for partners/dads who have experienced birth trauma.
Website: https://dadmatters.org.uk/
Email: Dadmatters@homestarthost@org.uk
NHS Talking Therapies
They can help provide therapeutic support to families who have experiences birth Trauma. You can make a self-referral or ask your GP to refer you.
To find your local Talking Therapies service, visit www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/find-nhs-talking-therapies-for-anxiety-and-depression
Yaran Northwest
They provide 1:1 counselling and group support for depression, life skills and language learning for Black, Asian and Ethnic minority groups.
Phone: 07360162260
Website: https://www.yarannorthwest.com/
1Point
Independent counselling and psychotherapy support in Bolton.
Phone: 01204 917744
Website: https://www.1pointbolton.org.uk/
Greater Manchester Parenting Collective
Supporting local communities around the city, by running Sling library support sessions, Baby wearing dance classes, Fourth Trimester support groups, private consultation, workshops, fundraising and signposting for new/vulnerable families, whilst working closely with local health authorities and groups.
Website: https://www.greatermanchesterparentingcollective.co.uk
Phone: 07495 731 317
Email: theparentingcollectivecic@gmail.com
Five X More
Supporting and campaigning for black maternal health. Offers support during pregnancy and with parenting.
Website: https://fivexmore.org/
Download the learning hub app via Android or Apple: Five X More Learning Hub App
