July 19, 2023

Health professionals come together to discuss birth trauma at UOW

Community leaders, health professionals and families join forces for birth trauma awareness week

Local families and experts came together at the University of Wollongong (UOW) today to discuss birth-related trauma and how to address the issue in the Illawarra region.

Today’s (Wednesday 19 July) event, organised by Better Births Illawarra, was attended by The Hon. Emma Hurst MLC and Dr Michael Holland MP. Ms Hurst is leading the NSW parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma. Dr Holland is the Member for Bega and Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Regional Health. He is also an obstetrician and gynaecologist region who is a passionate advocate for improving women’s health and health services.

Better Births Illawarra Vice-President and Event Organiser Sharon Settecase said the event aimed to raise awareness of birth trauma, help families access the support they need to heal from trauma, and discuss strategies to prevent birth-related trauma in the first place.

“We know one in three women describe their pregnancy or birth experience as traumatic, and that is just not good enough. Better Births Illawarra receives messages every week from women who share their traumatic experiences of pregnancy, labour, birth and post-partum,” Ms Settecase said.

Attendees at today’s event were able to talk to guest speakers, share their experiences and ask questions of psychologists, obstetricians, midwives, childbirth educators and academics.

UOW staff member and alumni Sarah Manning volunteers for Better Births Illawarra and helped organise the event.

“I’m passionate about raising the awareness of birth trauma and empowering families to advocate for themselves,” Ms Manning said.

“It is up to our whole community to be courageous, to stand up for the mums and birthing people in their lives and say that  is no longer acceptable. It shouldn’t be left to traumatised new parents to do this work, they deserve our support”.

When Ms Manning had her first baby 10 years ago she was unable to access the Midwifery Group Practice Program (MGP), which is widely considered the gold standard of maternity care. Her experience after giving birth left her feeling violated and disrespected.

“My second baby was born at home two years ago and it was a completely different experience with a private midwife providing continuity of care before, during and for 6 weeks after the birth. I felt empowered and it was such a better and more positive experience.”

Better Births Illawarra President Giselle Coromandel said birth-related trauma is not just about interventions, pain or injury.

“It’s about feeling out of control, confused, disrespected, unheard and powerless. It can be so many things, and it can affect partners and families too. We want all women to have a positive birthing experience so they can feel empowered,” Ms Coromandel said.

Better Births Illawarra is fighting for an expansion of the MGP program. The MGP is also linked with a reduction in birth-related trauma.

Ms Alysha-leigh Fameli completed a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology at UOW and spoke at the event. The Illawarra-based psychologist now researches birth trauma and the mother-infant relationship.

“Having experienced two very different births myself, birth trauma is an issue close to my heart, so much so that I have dedicated the last three years of my life to investigating childbirth-related PTSD (CB-PTSD) and the impact on the mother-infant relationship through my PhD research at the University of Sydney,” Ms Fameli said.

“My hope for mothers is that they understand that birth trauma is a very valid and real experience and that there is support they can seek.

“My hope for healthcare providers is that they realise the inherent power they have to change the trajectory for mothers both during the birth experience, to prevent the development of PTSD symptoms, as well as postnatal depression, which is also associated with birth trauma.

“Healthcare providers also have the capacity to screen for CB-PTSD in the postnatal period and can make referrals to appropriate services to ensure women and infants receive early intervention and support.”

About Better Births Illawarra

Better Births Illawarra is a community advocacy group representing families of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven to improve maternity care and access to publicly funded birthing options.