Childbirth Trauma: 1 in 8 Mothers Affected, Poll Reveals
One in eight mothers in the UK experienced trauma during childbirth, according to a recent poll commissioned by Lime Solicitors, with significant numbers subsequently reporting mental health problems linked to failings in maternity care. The survey revealed 12 per cent of women were traumatised during labour, often leading to lasting psychological harm and anxiety about future pregnancies.
The findings coincide with ongoing major maternity safety investigations, including the extensive inquiry into Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust – the largest in National Health Service (NHS) history – as well as reviews of services in Shrewsbury and Telford, East Kent, and other trusts. These investigations have repeatedly identified serious failings, missed warnings, and instances where women’s concerns were not adequately addressed.
The Lime Solicitors poll found that 30 per cent of women reported experiencing mental health issues following their childbirth experience, while 13 per cent described long-term psychological damage. A regional disparity was also highlighted, with one in five women in the West Midlands reporting lasting mental health harm.
Concerns about the quality of pre-birth care were also prevalent, with over a quarter of women (26 per cent) stating they did not positively rate their care before labour. During labour itself, almost one in three (32 per cent) reported that their consent was not properly obtained, while 29 per cent felt unheard by doctors and 23 per cent by midwives.
Younger mothers appeared particularly vulnerable, with 28 per cent of women aged 20 to 25 reporting short-term mental health damage, compared to a national average of 22 per cent.
Campaigners say the poll’s results echo the issues uncovered by recent maternity inquiries – specifically, poor communication, understaffing, and the dismissal of women’s concerns – leaving some mothers traumatised for years. Nikki Fahey, Head of Medical Negligence East Midlands at Lime Solicitors, stated the findings should serve as a “wake-up call,” adding, “Too many women tell us that what should have been one of the happiest moments of their lives became an experience defined by fear and distress.”
Fatema Chowdhury, 34, from Romford, London, is pursuing a clinical negligence claim against Barts Health NHS Trust following a traumatic birth experience in March 2018. Chowdhury suffered a cardiac arrest and sustained permanent injury after what she alleges was substandard care during the delivery of her first child. She had previously been treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was induced after reduced foetal movements were detected. After the initial induction failed, she requested a caesarean section, but claims this request was denied despite guidance recommending the option be discussed. The subsequent labour resulted in a forceps delivery, a third-degree tear, and a postpartum haemorrhage estimated at four litres, leading to cardiac arrest and intensive care. Following delivery, she developed serious bladder damage due to failings in postnatal care, resulting in ongoing incontinence and psychological trauma, including a fear of childbirth.
“I dreamt of having a child and holding my baby after birth,” Chowdhury said. “But my first daughter’s birth turned into a nightmare. I never imagined that I would wake up in the ICU surrounded by all the machines and wires after giving birth to my first child. I wish they could have listened to me once, then I would not have had to go through so many incidents, and my life would be different, even now.”
Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, said the poll underscored concerns raised by a series of maternity scandals, stating, “Maternity services have witnessed severe deterioration and a series of scandals. This study underscores both the extent of ongoing failings within maternity care and the serious mental health implications this has for women.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said the government was committed to improving the care mothers receive throughout pregnancy, birth, and the following months. They highlighted the “Healthy Babies” funding, which delivers support for perinatal mental health, and an additional £688 million investment in mental health services this year, including the recruitment of 8,000 additional mental health workers and the provision of Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services nationwide.
Barts Health NHS Trust acknowledged the concerns raised by Ms. Chowdhury and apologised that her care did not meet their standards. The Trust stated that her claim was progressing and they were committed to working with her legal representatives to reach a fair resolution.