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Birth trauma support program

Published: July 14, 2025

Blog

Birth Trauma Awareness week (14 – 18 July) aims to help people understand that childbirth can, and often does, cause physical and/or emotional trauma.  It highlights the need for understanding and better care and support.

Childbirth is a profound and life-altering experience, and it is often portrayed exclusively through a lens of joy and fulfilment. This is absolutely accurate for some who emerge feeling empowered and joyful.  Yet, for many birthing parents, the journey can include unexpected and overwhelming experiences of trauma, both of which can contribute to physical and psychological injury.

Birth trauma can have a significant impact on people’s wellbeing - and it’s time it’s better understood and addressed.

What is birth trauma?

Birth trauma is the physical and/or psychological harm experienced during childbirth. It can stem from complications and injury during labour and delivery; unexpected medical interventions; or a loss of trust and psychological safety. Importantly, birth trauma is defined by the birthing persons, as each experience is unique.

Although the causes and symptoms are varied, it’s important to understand that the trauma is real and can impact on health outcomes and quality of life. The implications for immediate and long-term health and wellbeing can be significant and it can manifest in many ways, including:

  • Damage to pelvic floor muscles, bladder, and nerves causing incontinence and vaginal prolapse
  • Perineal tears, postpartum haemorrhage
  • Emergency birth interventions

Symptoms of psychological birth trauma can include:

  • Anxiety and depression
  • Difficulties bonding with the baby
  • Nightmares and flashbacks
  • Nervous system activation such as sweating, shaking, headaches, or dizziness

Birth trauma can affect a person’s ability to participate in physical activity, and it can impact confidence, emotional wellbeing and mental health.  It can affect relationships and have a negative impact on the experience of intimacy.  It can also impact a person’s decision making about whether or when to have more children, and how they bond and parent their baby.

A common experience

Birth trauma is under recognised and undertreated. As many as 1 in 3 birthing parents in Australia describe their experience as traumatic, and a smaller proportion of these women (1 in 20) are at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of their birth experience.

A safe space for healing

As the first initiative of its kind in Victoria, Women's Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West is proud to partner with Birth Trauma Australia and local health professionals to deliver a new program of peer-to-peer support for women and birthing parents recovering from birth trauma.  The program will be piloted in both Warrnambool and Geelong and runs for 2 hours each week over 6 weeks, it responds directly to the impacts and prevalence of birth trauma.

The program offers education and understanding as participants learn how trauma affects the brain; explore emotions associated with it; and gain insights into self-advocacy and care options.

It also provides a safe space to discuss the impact on partners and families and to explore different forms of support.

Program facilitators are parents who have navigated birth trauma themselves and who bring invaluable empathy and understanding.

Why community-based support?

It's vital that support is available in the community rather than through the medical system where the trauma was originally experienced and where there may be ongoing feelings of fear and mistrust. This program offers a supportive environment away from clinical settings, ensuring participants feel safe and understood.

Birth Trauma Australia designed and developed the innovative program with people who have lived experience. It specifically supports and empowers recent survivors of birth trauma, helping them reach a place of acceptance and build hope for the future.

This project demonstrates strong collaboration and shared commitment, bringing together the community connection, organisational and governance strength of WHWBSW with the specialised expertise of local care providers, health promotion professionals and Birth Trauma Australia.  The program involves a comprehensive program package; expert training for local facilitators; on-the-ground knowledge of frontline and primary healthcare providers; as well as the voices of the local community.

This is a wonderful opportunity to make a real difference to women and families in the Warrnambool area and in Geelong. The program will pilot over a 12-month period, with intention to grow and expand the program to other Barwon South West locations over time.

For more information visit Birth trauma.. 

For information about the Peer2Peer Birth trauma support group community members are invited to attend an online community information session on July 18th – register through humanitix. 

Health professionals are encouraged to learn more by attending a 30-minute lunchtime webinar on July 16th – register through humanitix.

By Jodie Hill, CEO Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West, and Dr Alex Umbers