Birth Trauma Awareness Week: Recognising the impact, knowing your rights

For many families, welcoming a new baby is expected to be one of life's happiest moments. But for some, pregnancy, birth, or the postnatal period can be physically and emotionally traumatic, leaving lasting impacts on their health, wellbeing and family life.

Birth Trauma Awareness Week shines a light on these experiences and the need for greater understanding, support, and accountability. This year's theme, 'The Cost of Birth Trauma', highlights the financial, social, and psychological toll birth trauma can have on families and communities.

Understanding birth trauma

According to the World Health Organisation, 3 in 10 women in the world do not receive adequate postnatal care, leading to recurring pain and trauma. In Australia, birth trauma affects 1 in 3 women.

Birth trauma can have significant physical, emotional, and psychological consequences, and it is deeply personal. What feels traumatic for one person may not feel traumatic for another, and every experience deserves to be acknowledged and respected.

The physical impacts of birth trauma

Physical birth trauma may present as:

• perineal and pelvic birth injuries (tears, pelvic floor damage, prolapse, fractures)
• bladder and bowel complications (damage, incontinence)
• surgical and wound complications (caesarean wounds, infected stitches, wound breakdown)
• nerve-related pain (pudendal neuralgia)
• severe obstetric outcomes (postpartum haemorrhage, hysterectomy)

The psychological impacts of birth trauma

Psychological birth trauma refers to the lasting emotional and psychological impact of a birth experience that felt frightening or overwhelming to the individual, regardless of physical outcomes. It can affect not only the person giving birth, but also partners, non-birthing parents, and others who witness the experience.

Psychological birth trauma may present as:

• Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Postnatal Depression and/or Anxiety (PNDA)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), including recurring intrusive thoughts and behaviours that interfere with daily life

Many cases of birth trauma can be prevented through respectful care, including informed consent, clear communication, and responding to the birthing person’s needs and concerns during labour. A trauma-informed approach is particularly important for those at higher risk, helping to reduce the likelihood of distress and re-traumatisation.

Recognising the signs of birth trauma

Birth trauma does not always present immediately. While some people notice symptoms in the days and weeks following birth, for others, the impact may not become apparent until months or even years later. Understanding the signs and symptoms, in yourself or a loved one, is an important step towards recognising birth trauma and accessing appropriate support. Common signs of birth trauma may include:

• flashbacks, intrusive memories, or distressing thoughts about the birth
• nightmares or difficulty sleeping that is not related to caring for a newborn
• avoidance of people, places, conversations, medical appointments, or other reminders of the birth
• feeling emotionally numb, detached, or disconnected from your baby, partner, family, or friends
• difficulty bonding with your baby
• becoming intensely preoccupied with your baby's health and wellbeing
• persistent feelings of guilt, shame, anger, disappointment, grief, sadness, or failure
• anxiety, panic attacks, or a loss of confidence in your ability to parent
• low mood, tearfulness, exhaustion, or symptoms of depression
• gaps in memory about the birth experience
• fear of future pregnancies or reluctance to consider having another baby
• thoughts of self-harm or suicide

If any of these experiences feel familiar, you're not alone. Your feelings are valid and a natural response to what you have been through. Support is available, and healing is possible.

Why early support matters

A positive birth experience is about more than a healthy clinical outcome. It also involves feeling safe, respected, informed and supported throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period.

Recognising birth trauma early can make a significant difference to recovery. While some people experience symptoms soon after birth, others may not recognise the impact of their experience until months or even years later. Birth-related trauma and PTSD can be overlooked, particularly when the focus of postnatal care is on physical recovery or the baby's wellbeing.

Early support starts with listening to and validating a person's experience. It may include discussing the birth, addressing physical injuries, accessing mental health support, or connecting with trauma-informed services. Timely support can help reduce the longer-term impacts of birth trauma and improve outcomes for both parents and families.

It's also important to remember that birth trauma is not defined solely by what happened during labour and birth, but by how the experience was perceived and felt by the individual. Every person's experience is unique, and every experience deserves to be acknowledged with compassion and care.

When care falls short

Most healthcare professionals work hard to provide safe and compassionate maternity care. However, when systems are under pressure or standards of care are not met, mistakes and preventable harm can occur. Common concerns include:

• failure to recognise or respond to signs that urgent medical care is needed
• delays in treatment or intervention during pregnancy, labour, or birth
• poor communication between healthcare providers or failure to listen to concerns
• a lack of informed consent, where risks, benefits and alternatives are not clearly explained
• failure to properly diagnose, treat or manage complications affecting the mother or baby
• inadequate postnatal care, including failure to identify or address physical injuries or emerging mental health concerns

When care falls below an acceptable standard and causes harm, it may give rise to a legal claim. We understand that asking questions about your birth experience can feel overwhelming, particularly when you are still processing what happened.

Seeking legal advice is not about assigning blame. It can be an opportunity to get answers, understand whether the harm may have been preventable, and explore the options available to support you and your family.

What Gawthrop v Bendigo Health means for birth trauma survivors

The Victorian Supreme Court decision in Gawthrop v Bendigo Health has become an important part of the conversation around birth trauma, informed consent and patient autonomy in maternity care.

The case involved a labouring patient whose birth plan stated that vaginal examinations should only occur if medically necessary and with informed verbal consent. The Court found Bendigo Health liable after a vaginal examination was performed without free and voluntary consent.

Consent matters

The significance of the decision extends beyond the individual case. It reinforces that consent during pregnancy and childbirth is not simply a procedural requirement. People giving birth have the right to bodily autonomy, dignity and meaningful involvement in decisions about their care.

The Court recognised that consent obtained through pressure, coercion or a lack of genuine choice may not be valid. It also acknowledged that experiences of having wishes ignored, boundaries crossed, or choices taken away can have lasting psychological impacts. In Ms Gawthrop's case, the Court found the events contributed to significant psychiatric injury.

Importantly, the judgment highlights that harm in maternity care is not limited to clinical mistakes or treatment failures. It can also occur when a person's clearly expressed wishes are not respected, meaningful choices are not provided, or communication undermines their ability to make informed decisions about their care.

A reminder for healthcare providers

During Birth Trauma Awareness Week, the case serves as an important reminder of the need for respectful, person-centred and trauma-informed maternity care. Every person giving birth deserves to be treated with dignity, compassion, and respect during one of life's most significant experiences.

Getting support after birth trauma

If you have experienced birth trauma, or someone close to you has been affected, several steps can help you better understand your experience and access the support you may need:

Talk about your experience

Sharing your story with trusted friends, family members, or your partner can be an important part of processing what happened. Many people find it helpful to speak openly about their birth experience and the impact it has had on them. You may also wish to access specialist support services that provide information, counselling, and support for people affected by birth trauma, including:

• Birth Trauma Australia
• PANDA
• Gidget Foundation Australia
• Birthtalk
• Australian Breastfeeding Association

Support after loss, Red Nose Australia provides information, counselling and bereavement support for affected families.

Seek professional support

If you are struggling physically or emotionally after your birth experience, speak with your GP, midwife, obstetrician, or maternal and child health nurse. They can help you access appropriate treatment, counselling, and specialist support services.

Make a complaint

If you have concerns about the care you received, you may be able to lodge a formal complaint with the relevant health complaints body, such as the Health Complaints Commissioner. A complaint can provide an opportunity to have your concerns investigated and your experience formally acknowledged.

Know your rights after birth trauma

If you believe your or your child's injury may have been caused by medical negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Because strict time limits apply to claims, it's important to seek legal advice as early as possible.

Our experienced medical negligence team has supported families impacted by birth injuries for decades. We offer compassionate advice and No Win, No Fee representation for eligible claims.

Contact us today to discuss your legal options.