Maternal Birth Trauma

Having a baby should be a wonderful time in a woman’s life. Sadly, injuries and maternal birth trauma during or as a result of childbirth are common. In Australia, 1 in 3 women describe their birth experience as traumatic and have experienced maternal birth trauma.

Birth injuries can be physical or psychological. We often see women with both. Common physical injuries include peritoneal tears, faecal and urinary incontinence, complex issues arising from pro-longed second stage labour, and more. These injuries often cause women immense pain, discomfort, and embarrassment, and often they are coupled with psychiatric injuries as well.

We often help women with both. The impacts can be long lasting and traumatic and may extend to partners and loved ones.

Common physical injuries include

• perineal tears
• faecal and urinary incontinence
• pelvic floor damage.

Common psychiatric injuries include:

• post-partum post-traumatic stress disorder
• postnatal depression or anxiety
• obsessive compulsive disorder (excessively checking the baby is OK).

Our health and medical lawyers can help you investigate if your birth experience could have been avoided had proper care been given and and help you to claim for compensation.