Released on: 01 July 2019
In response to recent comments from The Birth Trauma Association about mothers ‘not being listened to’, Elizabeth Duff, Senior Policy Adviser, NCT, said:
‘The 2018 Scottish Maternity Survey found around one in five women reported that they were worried at being left alone during labour or birth and one in ten described their concerns as not taken seriously by staff.
‘The Care Quality Commission in England carries out a similar annual survey and its latest findings reflect many of the same concerns.
‘These sort of experiences, often the result of an overstretched midwifery workforce, can lead to women feeling powerless and not involved in decisions about their treatment.
‘For some women, this perception will exacerbate the risks of a traumatic birth and consequent mental health problems such as PTSD.’
