Birth Trauma: A First-Time Mum’s Story of Pain, Delay, and Recovery
April 11, 2025
We are grateful to share the inspiring journey of Emma Mackay, who is fundraising for the Birth Trauma Association (BTA) as part of the 2025
In this blog, women and their families share their experience of birth trauma. These stories are shared in their own voice and may be distressing to some readers.
Please take care to ensure you are ready to read these stories today and engage in the self-care and support you need to process what these stories bring up for you.
We tell these stories because many people find them helpful and it informs us all of the wide range of birth experiences families undergo.
“When there is one way, one story, learning is stunted. When we have more stories, we have more from which to learn. We see over and over again how choices, options, more stories, help us all.”
You can submit your story by emailing ABTA.
We are grateful to share the inspiring journey of Emma Mackay, who is fundraising for the Birth Trauma Association (BTA) as part of the 2025
Read one mother’s raw account of coping with a fourth-degree tear, navigating postpartum pain, and discovering hope through community, self-care, and resilience.
The theme of Perinatal Mental Health Week 2024 is trauma-informed care. To mark this week and this important topic, ABTA’s Advocacy Coordinator Hannah shares her story of how necessary medical care triggered past trauma.
The theme of Birth Trauma Awareness Week 2024 is Informed Consent. To close this week’s conversations, Mary shares her thoughts on her two births, where true informed consent has made a huge difference to her experience.
You NEED to inform people. Full stop. Please don’t withhold information from women.
To raise awareness about pelvic organ prolapse, Monique shares her story of pregnancy after IVF and a birth experience that altered her life forever.
Bria shares her story of an induction ending in a Caesarean section.
It took seeing more than 50 doctors for Adena’s pain to be diagnosed. She shares her story of how the gaps in medical care for new mums.
Amber-Lee shares her story of two pregnancies with hyperemesis gravidarum and severe tearing, and finding in herself extraordinary resilience that led to post-traumatic growth.
Carina’s education as a registered nurse meant she was acutely aware of the gaps in her postnatal care. She shares how the experience has made her rethink her career.
A father shares his experience of supporting his partner through pregnancy and homebirth transfer during the Covid-19 pandemic, in the hope of helping other fathers understand that they, too, can suffer birth-related trauma.
The traumatic birth of her son left Kiera with PTSD. Here she shares her journey of learning to overcome and live with the triggers.
Safer births and better healing.
PO Box 403
Buderim QLD 4556
0412 445 770
support@birthtrauma.org.au
The information on this website is not meant to replace advice provided by a health professional.
Copyright © 2025. All Rights Reserved.
BTA is proud to work with the National Relay Service and Translation and Interpreting Service (TIS).
Artwork kindly provided by Hayley Wills
Recommended by Health Direct
0412 445 770
support@birthtrauma.org.au
The information on this website is not meant to replace advice provided by a health professional.
Copyright © 2020. All Rights Reserved.
