I still remember the day I was elected as an MP for Stafford in the Boris landslide of 2019. It was a moment I had been working towards for years, having run a not-for-profit organisation, the Coalition For Global Prosperity. I had also been appointed the Government’s trade envoy to Kenya. I regarded myself as a foreign policy expert, never expecting that I would make my mark in politics by championing women who had suffered from birth trauma.

That speech, in October 2023, was a turning point. I had created an all-party group dedicated to birth trauma with the then Labour MP Rosie Duffield, and we chaired the first ever Birth Trauma Inquiry to be held in the UK. However, I had no idea of the postcode lottery that applies to maternity care and how inadequate it can be for both mother and baby.

When I went public, a huge number of women wrote to me sharing their stories. They spoke of traumatic experiences with medical staff, of inadequate pain relief, and of being dismissed or ignored by healthcare professionals.

My Personal Experience

I had been pregnant for about six months when I discovered I was expecting. I took a test in the toilets outside my office, then two more tests to confirm they were all positive. I was delighted. However, my experience of pregnancy was not without challenges.

I had a long-standing phobia of blood and needles, and I was terrified of having to have an emergency caesarean section. I became concerned about passing out during tests in pregnancy or having a panic attack in the hospital, which might affect our baby.

I was referred to a maternity trauma and loss care service prior to giving birth, and I was lucky to have a supportive specialist midwife, Terri. She was patient, kind, compassionate, and never made me feel foolish. She helped me to design a mental health care plan after she diagnosed me with severe anxiety.

However, my experience of childbirth was not what I had expected. I had planned to have a natural birth, but the hospital staff were not supportive. They told me that I needed to be induced and that I was not progressing in labour. I was given multiple pessaries, but they failed to induce labour. I was then given an epidural, which was a relief, but it was too late.

I had been induced since Thursday afternoon, and I was struggling to cope with the pain. I was exhausted, and my body was aching. I was convinced that my daughter was finally on her way, but the medical staff were not convinced. They told me that I had failed to progress, and that I needed to have an emergency caesarean.

I was required to undergo yet another vaginal examination, but this time the midwife’s tone was different. She was more urgent and animated, and she told me that I was finally fully dilated. I struggled to hear what she was saying due to the acute pain, but I could feel my daughter’s head pushing my cervix open. I emptied my bladder and bowels, and I felt her head thrust out of me.

It was raw and elemental. I felt her head rip through me and out into the world. I shook uncontrollably, with chapped lips and matted hair. Tears ran down my face as they took her away to wash off the blood and ringed her foot like a bird with a tag labelled ‘Baby Clarke’.

Aftermath

I held my daughter for a few minutes, feeling broken but completely elated. But the real nightmare was just about to begin. I was in a state of shock, and I was struggling to cope with the aftermath of my experience.

I was taken to a special care unit for new mothers, where I was given medication to help me cope with the pain and the stress. I was also given counseling to help me deal with the trauma I had experienced.

However, my experience of birth trauma has had a lasting impact on my life. I have struggled to cope with the aftermath, and I have had to deal with the emotional and psychological trauma I experienced.

I have since become an advocate for birth trauma awareness, and I have worked to raise awareness of the issues surrounding childbirth. I have also spoken out about the need for better support for women who experience birth trauma.

Conclusion

My experience of birth trauma has been a difficult one, but it has also taught me a lot about the importance of support and awareness. I hope that my story can help others who have experienced similar traumas, and I hope that it can also raise awareness of the issues surrounding childbirth.

As I look back on my experience, I am reminded of the importance of listening to women’s voices and experiences. I am also reminded of the need for better support and care for women who experience birth trauma.

My story is a testament to the fact that birth trauma is not just a personal experience, but a national issue that affects women’s health and well-being. I hope that my story can help to change the way that we approach childbirth and birth trauma.

References:

1. Clarke, T. (2025). Breaking The Taboo. Biteback Publishing.

For more information on birth trauma and how to support women who experience it, visit this website.

Or contact your local healthcare provider or women’s health organization for more information and support.

Remember, birth trauma is not just a personal experience, but a national issue that affects women’s health and well-being. Let’s work together to raise awareness and provide better support for women who experience it.

Breaking The Taboo Around Birth Trauma

Birth trauma is a serious issue that affects women’s health and well-being. It can have long-lasting effects on women’s mental and physical health, and can be shaped by a range of factors, including medical staff, hospital policies, and societal attitudes.

Women’s experiences of childbirth can be influenced by a range of factors, including their medical history, their relationship with their healthcare provider, and the policies and procedures in place in the hospital. These factors can affect the level of pain relief available, the type of medical interventions used, and the overall care provided to the woman and her baby.

Birth trauma can also be influenced by societal attitudes towards childbirth. Women who experience birth trauma may feel stigmatized or embarrassed, and may be less likely to seek help or support. This can perpetuate the cycle of birth trauma, making it harder for women to recover and for healthcare providers to provide effective support.

What Can We Do To Support Women Who Experience Birth Trauma?

There are several things that we can do to support women who experience birth trauma:

• Listen to women’s voices and experiences. This can help to raise awareness of the issues surrounding birth trauma and provide a platform for women to share their stories.
• Provide better support and care for women who experience birth trauma. This can include access to counseling, therapy, and medical interventions that can help to alleviate symptoms and promote healing.
• Raise awareness of birth trauma and its effects. This can help to reduce stigma and promote a culture of understanding and support.
• Improve hospital policies and procedures to reduce the risk of birth trauma. This can include providing better pain relief options, improving communication between medical staff and women, and promoting a culture of respect and empathy.

Conclusion

Birth trauma is a serious issue that affects women’s health and well-being. It can have long-lasting effects on women’s mental and physical health, and can be shaped by a range of factors, including medical staff, hospital policies, and societal attitudes.

By listening to women’s voices and experiences, providing better support and care, raising awareness of birth trauma, and improving hospital policies and procedures, we can work together to reduce the risk of birth trauma and promote a culture of understanding and support.

As I look back on my experience, I am reminded of the importance of listening to women’s voices and experiences. I am also reminded of the need for better support and care for women who experience birth trauma.

My story is a testament to the fact that birth trauma is not just a personal experience, but a national issue that affects women’s health and well-being.

Let’s work together to raise awareness and provide better support for women who experience birth trauma.

By breaking the taboo around birth trauma, we can create a culture of understanding and support that promotes the health and well-being of women and their families.

Breaking The Taboo Around Birth Trauma

Birth trauma is a serious issue that affects women’s health and well-being. It can have long-lasting effects on women’s mental and physical health, and can be shaped by a range of factors, including medical staff, hospital policies, and societal attitudes.

Women’s experiences of childbirth can be influenced by a range of factors, including their medical history, their relationship with their healthcare provider, and the policies and procedures in place in the hospital. These factors can affect the level of pain relief available, the type of medical interventions used, and the overall care provided to the woman and her baby.

Birth trauma can also be influenced by societal attitudes towards childbirth. Women who experience birth trauma may feel stigmatized or embarrassed, and may be less likely to seek help or support. This can perpetuate the cycle of birth trauma, making it harder for women to recover and for healthcare providers to provide effective support.

It is essential to raise awareness of birth trauma and to provide better support and care for women who experience it. This can include access to counseling, therapy, and medical interventions that can help to alleviate symptoms and promote healing.

By working together, we can create a culture of understanding and support that promotes the health and well-being of women and their families.

We can start by listening to women’s voices and experiences, and by providing better support and care for women who experience birth trauma. We can also raise awareness of birth trauma and its effects, and improve hospital policies and procedures to reduce the risk of birth trauma.

Together, we can break the taboo around birth trauma and create a culture of understanding and support that promotes the health and well-being of women and their families.

Supporting Women Who Experience Birth Trauma

There are several things that we can do to support women who experience birth trauma:

• Listen to women’s voices and experiences. This can help to raise awareness of the issues surrounding birth trauma and provide a platform for women to share their stories.
• Provide better support and care for women who experience birth trauma. This can include access to counseling, therapy, and medical interventions that can help to alleviate symptoms and promote healing.
• Raise awareness of birth trauma and its effects. This can help to reduce stigma and promote a culture of understanding and support.
• Improve hospital policies and procedures to reduce the risk of birth trauma.