Woman Left With Lifelong Injuries After Child Birth

Key Takeaways:

Approximately 30,000 women in the UK experience birth trauma annually, which can be either physical or emotional, leading to severe aftermaths such as PTSD.
Gill Castle, a former police officer, suffered significant physical injuries during childbirth, which led to a permanent colostomy and severe mental health issues, forcing her out of her job.
The lack of consistent care and support for women experiencing birth trauma is a critical issue. Long wait times for specialist care and insufficient support can exacerbate the difficulties faced by new mothers.
Led by Theo Clarke, MP, the UK’s first parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma aims to improve understanding and services for affected women.
Birth trauma can drastically alter one’s lifestyle, affecting family relationships, career, and overall well-being.

Former police officer Gill Castle had a normal pregnancy but had a difficult delivery of her first son, according to Sky News.

Castle is only one of many women in the UK who experience birth trauma annually; about 30,000 women do. Trauma can be mental or physical, as it was for Gill, and in some circumstances result in PTSD.

“I remember saying to my mother, I have gone into the hospital perfectly healthy, a working police officer, and I have come out disabled, without my job,” Gill recalled.

“A baby was all I wanted.”

Problems began when her child became lodged in the birth canal, and the forceps used to deliver him caused serious tearing and required permanent colostomy surgery.

Her injuries, which also seriously harmed her mental health, prevented her from returning to work.

“In the end, I was fitted with an emergency colostomy, a stoma that I still have, seven days after the delivery. Afterwards, my really serious mental health issues cost me my job as a police officer, she claimed.

As an advocate for women’s health, Gill is a member of a special inquiry headed by Stafford Member of Parliament Theo Clarke. After suffering from a hemorrhage that needed surgery following labor, Clarke started the first-ever parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma in the UK.

Some women had such horrific childbirth experiences that, roughly one in twenty of them even went on to acquire PTSD, a disorder characterized by intense anxiety following a terrifying event. Gill joined this project since she believes that women’s stories should be heard and understood.

The question aims to address the dearth of assistance available to moms who have experienced emotional or physical birth trauma.

The charity MASIC, which helps women who have suffered delivery injuries, highlights the uneven quality of treatment women receive, with lengthy wait times for specialists even if new moms’ situations are urgent.

MASIC CEO Chloe Oliver said, “There is a true postcode lottery of care.

“The waiting list for pelvic health and physio specialists may be quite long, and all the time you are trying to look after a baby whilst having really upsetting symptoms.”

“It affects your professional life and your connections with your family; you might not be able to return to the career you held before becoming pregnant. You have to learn to cope with the fact that your life totally changes,” explains Ms. Oliver.

FAQs on Birth Trauma:

What is birth trauma?

Birth trauma refers to physical or emotional injuries experienced during childbirth. It can lead to conditions like PTSD in severe cases.

How many women are affected by birth trauma in the UK?

About 30,000 women in the UK suffer from birth trauma each year.

What are the common effects of birth trauma?

Effects can include physical injuries, mental health issues like PTSD, and significant impacts on personal and professional life.

What support is available for women experiencing birth trauma?

While there are some specialist services and charities, like MASIC, that support women, the availability and quality of care can vary significantly across different areas.

Why is the parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma important?

The inquiry seeks to address the inconsistencies in care and support for women, aiming to improve healthcare policies and practices surrounding birth trauma.

How can birth trauma affect one’s career?

Severe physical or emotional outcomes from birth trauma can prevent women from returning to their previous jobs, impacting their career and financial stability.

What can be done to improve the situation for women with birth trauma?

Enhancing the availability of specialist care, reducing wait times for treatment, and increasing awareness and support at all levels of healthcare can help improve outcomes for these women.