Trauma in Childbirth: 1 in 8 Mothers Suffer Long-Term Mental Health Problems
One in eight mothers in the UK experienced trauma during childbirth, according to a modern poll, with many subsequently suffering mental health problems linked to failings in maternity care. The survey revealed that 12% of women were traumatised during birth, often experiencing lasting psychological harm, anxiety, and fear about future pregnancies.
Researchers found that nearly one in three mothers (30%) reported mental health issues following their childbirth experience, while 13% described long-term psychological damage. The figures emerge amid ongoing major maternity safety investigations, including the extensive inquiry into Nottingham hospitals, alongside reviews of services in Shrewsbury and Telford, East Kent, and other NHS trusts. These investigations have repeatedly identified serious failings, missed warnings, and instances where women’s concerns were not adequately addressed.
The polling, commissioned by Lime Solicitors, highlighted a potential postcode lottery in maternity safety, with the West Midlands reporting a higher rate of lasting mental health harm – one in five women – than the national average. More than a quarter of women (26%) reported a negative experience with their pre-birth care, indicating a lack of support even before labour began. During birth, 32% felt their consent was not properly upheld, 29% did not feel listened to by doctors, and 23% felt unheard by midwives.
Younger mothers appeared particularly vulnerable, with 28% of women aged 20-25 reporting short-term mental health damage, compared to a national average of 22%. Campaigners suggest these findings echo the issues uncovered by recent maternity inquiries: poor communication, understaffing, and the dismissal of women’s concerns, leading to prolonged trauma.
Nikki Fahey, Head of Medical Negligence East Midlands at Lime Solicitors, stated the findings should be a “wake-up call.” She said, “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. Our research has uncovered a system that’s leaving women to shoulder the mental and emotional fallout of poor maternity care. Mothers are being ignored, dismissed, and left to suffer in silence before, during and after giving birth. Our maternity care system is under immense strain, but the lack of compassion and communication reported by so many women must serve as a wake-up call.”
Fatema Chowdhury, 34, from Romford, east London, is pursuing a clinical negligence claim against Barts Health NHS Trust following a traumatic birth in March 2018. She suffered a cardiac arrest and permanent injury after what she describes as substandard care. Ms. Chowdhury, who had previously been treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma, was induced after reduced foetal movements. After the first induction failed, she requested a caesarean section, but says this request was denied, despite guidance recommending the option be discussed. The subsequent labour involved a forceps delivery, a third-degree tear, and a post-partum haemorrhage estimated at four litres, leading to cardiac arrest and intensive care. She now lives with serious bladder damage, resulting in incontinence and lasting psychological trauma, including a fear of childbirth.
“I dreamt of having a child and holding my baby after birth,” Ms. 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. Every time, I go to toilet I have to spend longer there because of my damaged bladder. It’s a constant reminder of my past. I am literally scared of those childbirth moments.”
Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Labour MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, said the poll underscored concerns raised by a series of maternity scandals. She stated, “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 spokesperson said the government is “committed to improving the care mothers receive throughout pregnancy, birth and the critical months that follow.” 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 nationwide Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services.
Barts Health NHS Trust acknowledged Ms. Chowdhury’s experience and apologised that her care did not meet their standards. A spokesperson stated the case is progressing and the trust is “committed to working with her lawyers to achieve a fair resolution.”