Birth Trauma Association
@birthtrauma.bsky.social
Charity supporting parents who have experienced traumatic birth.
FREE LEGAL CLINIC We're really pleased that our trusted legal partner, Leigh Day, will be offering free 30-minute phone or video clinics on 24 and 25 Aug, to answer your legal questions. To make an appointment for a free consultation, email ebushnell@leighday.co.uk or sstrkljevic@leighday.co.uk
"We are unable to report the indication for an induction of labour nor the reasons for a caesarean birth...as this information is not captured in the national maternity datasets, despite it often being recorded in the local hospital records." Frustrating. maternityaudit.org.uk/FilesUploade...
maternityaudit.org.uk
Our trusted legal partner, Leigh Day, will be offering free 30-minute phone or video clinics this month, with Emmalene Bushnell on 24 August and with Sanja Strkljevic on 25 August. To make an appt, email ebushnell@leighday.co.uk or sstrkljevic@leighday.co.uk
"The nurse in charge of my care was talking to colleagues outside the curtains and said: 'Her poor son is on the high dependency unit because she was too lazy to push'. I didn’t choose to have a caesarean, I was advised." www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...
Mum's birth trauma after nurse called her 'lazy' while newborn son was on oxygen
Mum Morgan Joins was left feeling guilty for months after the birth of her son, after she overheard a nurse call her "lazy" for having a caesarean-section while her newborn was put on oxygen
mirror.co.uk
Forthcoming legal clinic with @LeighDay_Law on 24 and 25 August. Both Emmalene (24th) and Sanja (25th) specialise in birth injuries and obstetric negligence. To make a free 30-minute appt, email ebushnell@leighday.co.uk or sstrkljevic@leighday.co.uk
Absolutely devastating read on the impact of international aid cuts on maternity care in the Central African Republic. For every 100,000 births in the country, 829 women die. www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Inside the worst places on earth to give birth
The Independent’s chief international correspondent Bel Trew travelled across the Central African Republic and Nigeria speaking to women who are risking their lives for motherhood
independent.co.uk
This is something we see a lot, but isn't talked about very much: fathers refusing to try for a second child because they cannot face putting their female partner through another traumatic birth. ifstudies.org/blog/for-mor...
For More Births, We Need Better Birth Experiences
ifstudies.org
"As she pushed her son into the world, the pubic symphysis cartilage holding her pelvis together tore away from the bone. Her pubic symphysis 'popped' – pubic symphysis diastasis is a rare but devastating birth injury that left her in excruciating pain." hercanberra.com.au/life/ayla-lo...
The $17.5 billion hidden crisis: World-first report hits close to home for Canberra women
Read Ayla Lorenzo's story as a new world-first report reveals the $17.5B cost of birth injuries in Australia and calls for urgent perinatal care reform.
hercanberra.com.au
This is incredibly sad. A mother exhausted from a three-day labour and postpartum haemorrhage is expected to go straight into caring for a newborn baby without help. www.aol.co.uk/articles/exh...
'Exhausted' new mum, 18, wakes up to find days old baby dead in her arms - AOL
"It's a very sad tragedy."
aol.co.uk
"Partners are frequently expected to move on quickly, and disregard their own feelings and experiences. However, that dismissal and unprocessed grief can lead to isolation, relationship strain, PTSD symptoms, and even drug and alcohol abuse." www.huffpost.com/entry/birth-...
Day 5 of Birth Trauma Awareness Week #BTAW2026 is looking at physical health costs of birth trauma. Our survey showed that many experienced devastating physical symptoms after traumatic birth, including bladder injuries, infection and anal sphincter damage. #BirthTraumaCostMe
"These conditions are costing Australia an estimated $17.5 billion each year...$8.8 billion in lost labour market costs, $6.5 billion in wellbeing and burden of disease impacts, $1.4 billion in health system costs and $792 million in household financial costs." www.dailymail.com/wires/aap/ar...
Mothers pay the price for birth trauma costing billions
Six years after delivering her first child, Ali Minichiello is still dealing with life-altering injuries. Forceps were used during her labour and five weeks...
dailymail.com
It’s Day 4 of Birth Trauma Awareness Week #BTAW2026, and we’re looking at the financial cost of birth trauma. Our survey of 903 women showed that birth trauma often led to a range of unexpected costs, such as paying for counselling or private physiotherapy. #BirthTraumaCostMe
"We’ve all seen the headlines: in the UK, birth rates have dropped to their lowest level in 50 years. Now new research from the Birth Trauma Association has found that women’s experience of childbirth has played a significant role in the falling figures." www.thetimes.com/article/0ad7...
My son was rushed to neonatal intensive care. I haemorrhaged
Birth trauma is putting women off having more children. Some go online for support. By India Sturgis
thetimes.com
Nearly half of women who have traumatic births on the NHS say it has stopped them from having more children in the future, a report has found. #BirthTraumaCostMe #BTAW2026 www.thetimes.com/article/2efd...
Traumatic births on NHS put women off having more children
Nearly half of women with birth trauma decided against further pregnancies and a third had delayed them, a study says
thetimes.com
It's Birth Trauma Awareness Week, and the theme this year is the cost of birth trauma. Birth Trauma Australia have commissioned research showing that birth trauma costs the Australian economy $17.5 billion a year. How much does it cost the UK? womensagenda.com.au/latest/eds-b...
There is no 'bouncing back' from childbirth trauma without knowledge and resources
Birth trauma is an escalating public health crisis Australia can no longer ignore. 13 years after my own such trauma, I know it takes longterm support.
womensagenda.com.au
"Official figures show 1,418 claims lodged in 2025-26, a rise of 40 per cent in six years." www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07...
telegraph.co.uk
"...multiple reviews have not produced mechanisms or agendas for change. Mechanisms for change require informed methods of implementation, consultation, and accountability, involving patients and the public." www.bmj.com/content/394/...
Amos maternity review methods compounded harm for families
Future work to improve maternity care must be trauma informed and listen to the needs of families, writes Jenny Ardley Our maternity system is in crisis. A week after the Ockenden review of maternit...
bmj.com
Many thanks to Olivia Boschat of @boltburdonkemp.bsky.social for her webinar yesterday on taking legal action after traumatic birth. You can watch the webinar here (scroll down): www.birthtraumaassociation.org/complaints-l...
Complaints and legal advice — Birth Trauma Association
If poor care has contributed to your birth trauma, you might want to consider making a complaint or taking legal action. The Birth Trauma Association guides explain how to access your medical notes, m...
birthtraumaassociation.org
Julianne Moore, a partner at Irwin Mitchell, will be offering free 30-minute phone or video consultations between 13 and 17 July on taking a medical negligence action after traumatic birth. Please contact Sam Young, sam.young@irwinmitchell.com to book a slot.
Thanks so much to the women's health team at Bolt Burdon Kemp for sharing their thoughts about the Amos review and highlighting our work. www.boltburdonkemp.co.uk/our-insights...
National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation Report- a letdown? | Bolt Burdon Kemp
In this episode, Hannah Travis, Senior Associate in our Women’s Health team, sits down with Claudia Hillemand, Partner and Head of the Child Brain Injury team, to discuss their initial reactions to th...
boltburdonkemp.co.uk
One of our trusted legal partners, Bolt Burdon Kemp, is offering a free webinar at 12.30 on Wednesday 8 July about making a medical negligence claim. It will by led by Olivia Boschat of BBK's women's health team. Sign up here: www.tickettailor.com/events/birth...
Select tickets – Webinar: Making a legal claim after a traumatic birth – Zoom
Webinar: Making a legal claim after a traumatic birth – Zoom, Wed 8 Jul 2026 - In this webinar hosted by the Birth Trauma Association, Olivia Boschat, associate solicitor in the women’s health team at...
tickettailor.com
Our response to the Amos review. www.birthtraumaassociation.org/news-campaig...
‘A huge missed opportunity’: the Birth Trauma Association responds to the Amos review — Birth Trauma Association
The UK’s leading birth trauma charity, the Birth Trauma Association, has described the final report of the Independent Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Services in England – the Amos review –...
birthtraumaassociation.org
Thoughtful article from James Titcombe in response to the Nottingham maternity review. www.bmj.com/content/393/...
To improve maternity services we must confront the damaging ideology that prizes “normal childbirth” over safe care
The review of maternity services at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is a devastating read.1 It found that, between 2012 and 2025, 520 women and babies experienced potentially avoidable harm,...
bmj.com
"The rate of women sustaining the most serious type of tear during childbirth rose to 31.1 in every 1,000 in January, February and March – the highest since monitoring started in 2020." www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Risk of serious birth injuries is rising for women in England, data suggests
About 31 in every 1,000 facing haemorrhage or severe tears, NHS figures show, in trend described as ‘national crisis’
theguardian.com
Excellent piece about Donna Ockenden's review into Nottingham by Janice Turner. www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...
There’s way too much impunity in the NHS
The latest maternity scandal is a saga of cruelty, negligence and lack of accountability — it’s becoming all too familiar
thetimes.com
We're pleased to announce that our trusted legal partner @BoltBurdonKemp is offering a free webinar at 12.30 on Wed 8 July about making a medical negligence claim. The webinar will by led by Olivia Boschat of BBK's women's health team. Sign up at: www.tickettailor.com/events/birth...
Select tickets – Webinar: Making a legal claim after a traumatic birth – Zoom
Webinar: Making a legal claim after a traumatic birth – Zoom, Wed 8 Jul 2026 - In this webinar hosted by the Birth Trauma Association, Olivia Boschat, associate solicitor in the women’s health team at...
tickettailor.com
Excellent summary of what's in the Ockenden review from Claudia Hillemand of Bolt Burdon Kemp. www.boltburdonkemp.co.uk/our-insights...
Ockenden report: Clear opportunities were missed time and time again | Our Insights
Read about: Ockenden report: Clear opportunities were missed time and time again | Bolt Burdon Kemp
boltburdonkemp.co.uk
Our response to Donna Ockenden's review into maternity care at Nottingham University Hospitals, published today. www.birthtraumaassociation.org/news-campaig...
Nottingham is not unique – change is necessary throughout maternity, says the Birth Trauma Association — Birth Trauma Association
The Birth Trauma Association, the leading UK charity for supporting parents affected by traumatic birth experiences, has welcomed the recommendations of the Ockenden report into failings at Nottingham...
birthtraumaassociation.org
