New

The Guardian View On Maternity Care Failures: Birth Trauma Can And Should Be Reduced | Editorial

A pioneering report from MPs should lead to much-needed improvements in the treatment of new mothers by the NHS

Like previous inquiries on maternity care failings, the birth trauma report published on Monday was instigated by a campaigner with first-hand knowledge. After a 40-hour labour in which she suffered a third-degree tear to her perineum, followed by surgery without a general anaesthetic, Theo Clarke was horrified by the poor care she received on a ward. Last October, Ms Clarke, who is the Conservative MP for Stafford, led the first UK parliamentary debate about birth trauma. This week’s report marks the culmination of months of work by the all-party group she chairs.

Drawing on expert evidence as well as that of 1,300 people who wrote in about their own experiences, the report vividly conveys the human cost of past failures. One of Ms Clarke’s goals was to break the taboo surrounding birth trauma. Here are harrowing details of the physical and psychological consequences when labour goes wrong and care is inadequate. Birth trauma means overwhelming distress linked to childbirth with a negative impact on health. About 30,000 women each year (between 4% and 5% of all new mothers) are diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Risk factors include complications leading to delivery by emergency caesarean or using forceps, and prior mental health problems.

Back to Listing

credit:

The Guardian View On Maternity Care Failures: Birth Trauma Can And Should Be Reduced | Editorial

Popular Products