The majority of women experience childbirth positively but for some women this is not always the case. Birth trauma is a term that refers to women’s negative emotional and physical experiences of childbirth. Traumatic birth experiences can have an impact on the initiation and establishment of breastfeeding, bonding and attachment between the mother and her baby, recovery from birth, and short and long term health challenges. Although some difficult experiences are not always preventable the emotional support that a birthing woman is given can make a positive difference at the time of birth and later. Women have described being distressed by the feeling of loss of control during labour and birth, and unexpected events during labour and birth can have a profound impact. Having a known midwife who is providing continuity of care can support the emotional needs of the birthing woman by making sure she is involved in decision making through pregnancy and the childbirth experience. A survey on birth trauma found that traumatic birth experiences were linked to experiences of stress and fear related to unexpected outcomes such as emergency caesarean births, and included feeling robbed of the expected birth experience, poor maternity care, poor pain management, a baby being admitted to neonatal intensive care and a triggering of a previous traumatic experience such as abuse.

Physical trauma as well as emotional trauma may also cause short and long term problems. The Accident Compensation Commission is now covering maternal birth injuries if they occurred after 1^st October 2022. Midwives, doctors, or other health care providers can lodge ACC claims after a diagnosis of injury. There is a list of labour and birth injuries that are covered by ACC on their website, which includes tears to the perineum and vagina during birth https://www.acc.co.nz/im-injured/what-we-cover/cover-for-maternal-birth-injuries/  but other injuries may also be covered if caused by medical treatment during birth. Support provided can include physiotherapy, other specialist treatment and support at home.

If there are some concerns about the midwifery care that was provided, the New Zealand College of Midwives Resolutions Committee provides neutral, confidential support for women with concerns about the care they received. This service aims to resolves concerns as well as providing answers to questions women may have about their experiences. Each region in New Zealand has a resolution support process. Click here for more information on the resolutions process.