Birth Trauma Association calls on parents to submit stories to new parliamentary inquiry
The Birth Trauma Association (BTA) today called on mums across the country to give their views and share their experiences of birth trauma as a first ever parliamentary inquiry on the issue was launched.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (AAPG) on Birth Trauma will hear evidence from experts, medical professionals and from mums during a series of evidence sessions in parliament starting on 5th February until 18th March.
The BTA is a key supporter and contributor to the inquiry headed by the APPG’s co-chairs Theo Clarke MP and Rosie Duffield MP.
The inquiry will give women the opportunity for their stories of birth trauma to be told and examined in a formal way.
The aim is to collate evidence to the government for practical and achievable recommendations aimed at improving care and support for new mothers and their partners.
Another ambition is for birth trauma to be part of the upcoming Women’s Health Strategy.
Kim Thomas, CEO of the BTA, said “We are thrilled that Theo Clarke is launching this inquiry. Theo has already done important work this year in raising the profile of birth trauma, from setting up an all-party parliamentary group (APPG) to bringing about the first ever debate on birth trauma in parliamentary history. This inquiry represents an opportunity for women to share their stories of traumatic birth and to know that they will be listened to.
“The ongoing inquiry into birth trauma in New South Wales has shown what a powerful forum an inquiry can be for highlighting examples of poor maternal care. Some of the testimony from that inquiry has been electrifying, with women recounting stories of care that is neglectful and sometimes even cruel.
“We know from what women tell us that experiences of shockingly poor care are also common in the NHS. But these women find that they are rarely listened to – often complaints to hospitals are met with attempts to minimise the woman’s trauma and deny responsibility. When they find us, we are frequently the first organisation to listen to their accounts and acknowledge their trauma. Yet we know from the CQC’s recent series of inspections that maternity units are failing women: half are rated either “inadequate” or “requiring improvement”.
“For years, the Birth Trauma Association has asked policymakers and the NHS to take women’s experience of traumatic birth seriously, and to understand the devastating impact it can have on their lives and relationships. Finally, thanks to Theo Clarke, there is now a chance to bring the subject out into the open, and to make people at the highest level aware of the scale of the problem. We hope that this inquiry will be a wake-up call for policymakers – and an important step on the journey to transforming maternity care in this country.”
There has never been a parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma in the UK.
Theo Clarke also held the first ever debate on birth trauma in parliament last year where she told her own story of what happened following the birth of her daughter – an experience that compelled her to join forces with Rosie to set up the APPG and launch the inquiry.
People can give their experiences at: https://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/birth-trauma .
