Psychiatric Injury after a Traumatic Birth.

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week runs from 4 – 10 May, providing an important opportunity to highlight not only common postnatal mental health conditions, but also the often-overlooked psychological impact of traumatic birth experiences.

Childbirth is widely expected to be a joyous and life-affirming event but for some mothers this experience is overshadowed by trauma and distress. In 2024 the APPG investigation into birth trauma reported that approximately one in three women found some aspects of their birth traumatic.

Understanding Psychological Birth Trauma

Psychiatric injury after childbirth can take many forms, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to PTSD UK, it is estimated that 4% - 6% of women who give birth develop PTSD.

In addition to the standard symptoms, PTSD UK recognise the below symptoms are common amongst those suffering with PTSD from childbirth.

• Revisiting images of labour and birth.
• Fear and avoidance of giving birth in the future.
• Poor self-image and feeling inadequate.
• Lack of interest in and avoidance of physical contact.
• Difficulty bonding with your baby, and guilt as a result.
• Post-natal depression.
• Isolation and loneliness.

When To Seek Help and What Support Is Available

For many women, it may not be immediately obvious that they are experiencing a psychiatric injury. Symptoms can develop over time and may initially be attributed to the general pressures of new parenthood.

However, it may be appropriate to seek medical support if symptoms:

• Persist beyond the early postnatal period.
• Interfere with daily life and relationships.
• Lead to avoidance of healthcare.
• Progress to suicidal ideation and thoughts of self-harm.

Services such as the Birth Trauma Association offer information, peer support and guidance for those affected by postnatal mental health difficulties. Their website can be found here - https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org

When Does It Become Clinical Negligence?

Not every traumatic birth will give rise to a legal claim. For a psychiatric injury claim to be successful it must be established that the psychiatric injury suffered was as a direct result of the negligent care afforded to the mother during the antenatal period, and/or their labour and delivery.

Examples of substandard care which can directly cause psychiatric injury include:

• Failure to recognise and respond appropriately to signs of fetal distress.
• Inadequate responses to complications such as pre-eclampsia, placental abruption, haemorrhage or shoulder dystocia.
• Instrumental delivery errors.
• Delayed decision making in relation to emergency interventions, such as a caesarean section.

If you or a loved one have suffered mental health complications as a result of negligence in childbirth, our specialist team of medical negligence solicitors are here to support you through this journey and advise you on your legal options. Contact us directly on 0800 652 3371 or visit our maternity injury page for more information.