Meet Wieke Vink, Make Birth Better Champion & Mentoring Programme Manager at Routes, an organisation that supports refugees and asylum seekers through mentorship and creative programmes.
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Gemma pens down her harrowing journey with the birth of her eleventh baby as her mother’s intuition kicks in, despite her concerns being dismissed by professionals. “The ignorance and dismissive behaviour of some staff members have a lasting effect.”
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Charlotte Mindel is a mother and somatic therapist supporting mums through pregnancy and motherhood, with a focus on de-shaming anger and building capacity for joy in motherhood. She shares her thoughts on how healing from a challenging or shocking birth is so much more than the event itself.
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Deborah is a British Sign Language (BSL) Interpreter who supported Alex Smith’s (AIMS) talk ‘Signs that you want to help: deafness and birth trauma’ at the Annual Birth Trauma Summit this year. Deborah writes about how she became a BSL interpreter and shares what it means to play such an intimate part in both joyful and devastating moments.
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A third of births in England are induced. The rate of induction is up by 10% in the last decade. At Make Birth Better, we have several concerns about the increase in the number of people being induced. Here’s four reasons why and some recommendations to help you make a decision around induction.
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Chrissy Brown had a wonderful first pregnancy but after giving birth, things began to change and Chrissy experienced symptoms of anxiety for the first time. After a GP visit, Chrissy was underwhelmed with the lack of support offered and took matters into her own hands, and started the Motivational Mums Club. In this blog, Chrissy shares her story with us as well as her tips for other women and birthing people experiencing mental health struggles
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Clare Marie’s first pregnancy was as smooth as can be, but her birth story was different. She shares about how her mental health struggles post-birth eventually led her to train other women to become wellness professionals and widen the network of support available to new mums.
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Our involvement in the BESt-UK study means we are calling for people to share their birth experiences again. We understand this may not feel timely for some people who are already feeling fatigued or harmed by the Public Inquiry. We also know you might have questions.
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We need your help please. All women and birthing people who have given birth in the last five years - we urge you to consider completing the BESt-UK survey about your birth experience. We urgently need more up-to-date robust data on the prevelance of birth trauma and obsetric violence in the UK.
Boitumelo Dibakoane hid her pregnancy until two weeks after her son was born. Here, she discusses movingly how the search for a name for her baby eventually led to self-acceptance and strengthened the motherhood bond.
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It’s been a big week for birth trauma. And we hear you when you say it’s felt hard going. Our supporters have shared so many contrasting emotions in light of the APPG report on the Public Inquiry and we hope to capture you all as we share our reflections today.
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Going back to work after having a baby is not an easy transition in any circumstances. As a new parent, you may love your job but still feel overwhelmed and anxious about your return. To set you off on a good start,here, are four recommended steps you can take to put your return on a much more thoughtful, mindful and calm trajectory.
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Hannah’s two births were so different and equally powerful. Labour wakens big emotions and though she’s still making sense of it all, her two labours have changed her. Follow Hannah’s journey from past trauma to healing and the awakening of a strong creative energy.
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Emily reflects on the first year with her daughter: the traumatic start, the bonding process and finding her own parenting style. Read her thoughts in this heartfelt letter to her little girl.
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Elizabeth is a GP, married with two kids and a relatively recent house owner. When she learns her request for life insurance isn’t even reviewed due to her mental health history, she decides to take action and reaches out to Make Birth Better.
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American mum Taylor Hindermann shares about the birth story of her son, Kip. During pregnancy the doctors found fluid in Kip’s abdomen which seemed to put his life in danger. Defining all odds, Kip was born at 34 weeks. This is Taylor’s story about her ‘miracle baby’.
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Beverley is a first-time mum and founder of Motherhood Uncensored, a charity tackling myths, misogyny and nonsense about motherhood by sharing unheard stories. She shares about how she thinks her preparation pre-birth set her up to fail.
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The UK Public Inquiry into Birth Trauma is calling for evidence from professionals who have experience of working with birth trauma and those suffering from vicarious trauma themselves too.
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Veterinary nurse Jo felt elated when she became pregnant for the second time. But this soon led to a devasting loss that was to affect the subsequent birth of her rainbow baby. Here, she discusses her journey through postnatal trauma and how, with the right support, she found eventual empowerment.
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The Birth Trauma All Parliamentary Party Group (APPG) - led by Theo Clarke MP and Rosie Duffield MP - is launching a public inquiry today, which aims to review the reasons for the prevalence of birth trauma in the UK. The inquiry is inviting parents and professionals affected by birth trauma to submit their stories. There will also be a series of witness panel sessions held in Parliament. This will conclude in a report which puts forward policy recommendations to reduce the rate of birth trauma.
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