ALSWH and CWHR submission to the NSW parliamentary Inquiry into Birth Trauma
CWHR and ALSWH-affiliated researchers prepared a submission to the NSW Birth Trauma Inquiry, on behalf of CWHR and ALSWH. The submission outlines findings from ALSWH in relation to: The prevalence of potentially traumatic birth experiences among women born 1989-95 and 1973-78, including birth interventions, long labour, emotional distress during labour, and stillbirths; Risk and associated factors for potentially traumatic birth experiences; and the relationship between potentially traumatic birth experiences and mental health. Recommendations to improve obstetric and perinatal care are also presented.
Outcomes:
On 11/03/2024 Deb Loxton, Natalie Townsend and Nicole Reilly gave evidence at the hearing for the NSW parliament inquiry into birth trauma. The hearing discussed the CWHR submission to the inquiry into birth trauma broadly, the contributions of ALSWH, the definition surrounding a traumatic birth and what needs to be done to better capture this data. Research methods, representativeness of the dataset (e.g., women in rural or regional locations) and access/continuity of trauma-informed care were also discussed.
On 29/05/2024 a final report on “Birth Trauma” was released from the Legislative Council. The CWHR submission and ALSWH findings have been referenced on pages 23, 24, 26, 65, 67 and 68. The ALSWH data reported discussed the following from CWHR’s submission:
- The number of women reporting a potentially traumatic birth experience
- The interventions during childbirth (e.g., induction, forceps, emergency caesarean) that correlated with emotional distress
- The links between traumatic births and risks for postnatal anxiety and depression
Links
Read the NSW Parliament Birth Trauma Report
Learn more at the Parliament of New South Wales website