What We Do
“We refuse to accept that 200,000 families per year start their journey into parenthood struggling with birth trauma. Particularly when we know how we can help.”
- Dr Rebecca Moore, Make Birth Better Co-founder
Research shows at least 1 in 3 women find some aspect of their birth traumatic. This translates to 200,000 new mums in the UK each year. There is very limited research on the prevalence of birth trauma in trans and non-binary folk but we know that their experiences of perinatal care are consistently worse across the board compared with cisgendered women (see more here).
So, in 2018 Perinatal Psychiatrist Dr Rebecca Moore and Clinical Psychologist Dr Emma Svanberg started a mission: to create a world where people no longer suffer from birth trauma. A pretty bold one, but at Make Birth Better we strongly believe it can be done.
How?
We support both parents and professionals impacted by birth trauma, we offer a wide range of training and we raise our voices through campaigning.
We also do whatever we can to support those conducting vital research into perinatal mental health. Are you conducting research around birth trauma in parents or vicarious trauma in maternity professionals? Then use our platform to advertise for participants in your study. Read more about how to share your project here.
“I was signposted to Make Birth Better following my own traumatic birth. I made use of free resources while I waited for mental health referrals. Knowing the good it did for me, I want to pass on the message to other parents and make it known that there is help and that work is being done to prevent future traumatic experiences.”
Feeling supported after a traumatic experience often starts with finally being able to put a name to what happened. That’s why we share with you what birth trauma means, and what it can feel or look like - on our website and our social media.
We know from a study we did in 2019 that 73% of women had never been asked about their birth experience. The thousands of parents we support tell us time and time again that they weren’t given the support they needed to cope with their birth trauma. We’re here for parents when they’re looking for help or when they want to share what they went through. We’re here to help if you’re planning for another child after a distressing experience.
And, following our Make Birth Better model, we go full circle in supporting those impacted by birth trauma. We’re here for professionals and partners too. Dealing with difficult births or complicated pregnancies can be traumatising. It can lead to what’s referred to as vicarious or secondary trauma. You can read more about how this impacts professionals here, and how this impacts partners here.
“It was great to have a facilitated safe space to reflect and discuss issues we work with. Fantastic toolkits, frames of reference, examples of language to use.”
Our training delivers a significant shift in knowledge, skills and confidence, with our attendees being much more likely to be able to prevent, diagnose and treat birth trauma. When course participants begin our training an average of 36% feel knowledgeable or very knowledgeable about how to recognise the signs of birth trauma. By the end of our training, 90% of participants feel this way.
We provide evidence-based training to organisations and individuals. We cover every aspect of perinatal trauma as well as vicarious trauma in professionals. And we have something for everyone - from free resources through to bespoke training designed to meet your exact needs. Read more about our free downloads, online courses, bespoke training and Annual Birth Trauma Summit.
“There can be no more excuses.”
We consider ourselves activists for better birth experiences. In fact, it is one of our five core values.
Through campaigning we are reshaping the maternity system into a space where everyone is given equitable and dignified care. Where birth is a collaborative experience. Where parents and professionals all feel held in a system that values them. Read more about the goals and calls-to-actions of #NoMoreExcuses, #ThinkTraumaNow, #EveryWordCounts and the one that started it all - our Make Birth Better campaign.