A NSW parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma is shining an important light on the extent and impact of birth trauma that I hope will bring attention, resources and continued change to the way birthing is conducted to reduce trauma on women and their families.

With a record 4,000 submissions lodged, the inquiry has been described as “the me too of childbirth.” Still part way through its inquiry and public hearing process, it has already led to an apology from NSW Health and a comment from the Minister for Health that the NSW Government and its health department should not necessarily wait for the inquiry recommendations to start to make changes.

I am increasingly cynical about government inquiries. In the health and aged care sectors there have been many inquiries and royal commissions that reveal important information and make good recommendations. Often, previous inquiries have revealed similar information and issues and previous recommendations have been rejected or not implemented by government or other responsible individuals, organisations or governments.

The NSW Upper House Select Committee on Birth Trauma was established on June 21 2023 to inquire into and report on birth trauma. The first such inquiry into this under discussed topic is a refreshing change to other politically driven inquiries.

Birth trauma is common and needs to be discussed and minimised. One in three Australian women experience maternal birth trauma – physical injuries, psychological trauma or both – either during or because of childbirth. The Australasian Birth Trauma Association (ABTA) estimates 110,000 families are impacted by birth trauma every year.

Congratulations to the women who have bravely told their stories to the inquiry members. Women need to speak up if we are to effect change but that is not always easy to do. While submissions have closed, there will be more information presented at two more public hearings – in Sydney and Wagga Wagga.

October 9, 2023 – Preston-Stanley Room, Parliament House, Sydney                                        

December 12, 2023 – To be advised – Wagga Wagga

Some of the key issues emerging from the submissions and the first two hearings – held in Sydney and Wollongong – are a lack of continuity of care partly because or workforce and resourcing issues, a lack of informed consent and discussion of the risks of giving birth, inadequate pain relief, weight shaming through to disrespectful treatment and clinical incompetence.

Many of these issues emerge in the medical negligence cases my firm handles for clients in relation to birth trauma. Many of the women we support had little information on maternal birth trauma and managing its impacts.

As well as performing their duties competently, health professionals also have a duty to inform people of the risks associated with health and medical procedures – including birth.

Despite being a medical lawyer, I went into my traumatic birth without a true understanding of what might happen. You can read my story and comments on birth trauma in opinion pieces I wrote for Women’s Agenda and Newcastle Herald. In those articles I mentioned that knowledge is power. We need to empower women and their partners with knowledge around the many aspects of birth, including what can go wrong, so they are better able to respond while giving birth and afterwards. These things can help to reduce birth trauma.

The founder and CEO of ABTA, Amy Dawes also gave evidence at one of the first inquiry hearings. During Birth Trauma Awareness Week in July, I spoke to Amy for our firm’s podcast on this topic. You can listen to the podcast on birth trauma here.

One of the reasons why birth trauma can be difficult to discuss is because society puts birthing on a pedestal of always being a happy event. To say otherwise is to fail as a parent. Birth as a possible traumatic event was only recognised in 2014.

Getting people speaking about the reality of birth trauma is one reason why this inquiry is so important, and I hope will lead to positive change.

If this article raises concerns or emotions for you, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Australasian Birth Trauma Association at birthtrauma.org.au