Maternity Matters is working in conjunction with The Birth Trauma Association and share the main elements of their ethos. The Birth Trauma Associations mission statement is as follows:
The Birth Trauma Association (BTA) was established in 2004 to support women suffering from Post Natal Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or birth trauma. We are not trained counsellors or therapists or medical professionals. We are mothers who wish to support other women who have suffered difficult births and we aim to offer advice and support to all women who are finding it hard to cope with their childbirth experience.
The BTA is the only organisation in the UK which deals solely and specifically with this issue. We aim to tackle the problem with work which is focused on three main areas:
(1) Raising awareness of birth trauma
(2) Working to prevent it
(3) Supporting families in need
We have four leading experts on our Board, a Board of Trustees and an Executive Committee of committed activists. In addition, we have many active professional and lay volunteers whose skills range from administration to obstetric and psychological expertise.
The BTA believes that too little is known about the psychology of childbirth and this means that the mental health consequences of it are all too often and, all too easily, ignored. We also believe that, on occasion, the emotional needs of women are sidelined or forgotten. We are very keen to have the support of health care professionals for our work so that we can campaign effectively to change any current practices that contribute to traumatic birth experiences. If you are a health care professional and you would like more information about birth trauma or you would like to help raise awareness of this issue then please contact us.
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