Birth trauma 'dismissed, shrouded in secrecy'
Research by Birth Trauma Australia (BTA) has found distressing or emergency procedures and poor management of pain or physical injuries are the most significant contributors to birth trauma.
The study has been released during birth trauma awareness week, held each year to highlight the issue and provide support to women and their families.
Birth injuries are linked to a range of physical, psychological and social impacts including conditions like pelvic organ prolapse, painful sex and urinary incontinence.
Relationship strain, reduced body confidence, difficulty returning to work and ongoing social or physical limitations can all be experienced as a result of these injuries.
Yet many women face compounding delays in diagnosis and limited access to treatment.
When birth injuries are left undiagnosed or untreated, it can significantly affect their mental health.
Almost 60 per cent of those diagnosed with a birth-related injury more than a year after birth reported severe mental health consequences, including suicidal ideation.
A landmark inquiry into birth trauma by the NSW parliament attracted international attention as well as thousands of submissions from patients, doctors, midwives and experts around Australia.
The final report released in 2024 found the rates of birth trauma were unacceptable and made 43 recommendations, including an overhaul of the health system.
Yet little has been done on a national level.
The current maternal health system was failing women, their families and care providers, BTA co-founder Amy Dawes said.
"Birth trauma is not new but it's just historically been shrouded in secrecy and there is an ongoing culture of dismissing women's problems," she told AAP.
"At the moment access to care after trauma is based on your post code but we need a holistic approach that all women have access to."
Ms Dawes experienced a traumatic birth when she had her first baby which led to irreparable pelvic floor damage.
"My quality of life was completely impacted, I was told I couldn't play the sport I loved and shouldn't lift my child up," she said.
"It took me to a very dark place as I thought I was the only one who had experienced this."
A Facebook birth trauma support group for Australian women has close to 5000 members and provides a space for people to share their stories and advice.
"When women experience trauma from birth they also experience shame, guilt and feelings of isolation," Ms Dawes said.
"But there is power in peer support ... there is also great power in storytelling and it's not to scare people with traumatic stories, but knowledge is power."
BTA has launched a petition calling for a National Strategy for the Care and Treatment of Birth Injuries that would introduce mandatory postnatal screening, clear referral pathways and funded access to physiotherapy, psychological support and surgical or rehabilitative care.
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