Half of GPs feel unequipped to support mums with birth trauma – new report reveals worrying gaps
New data shows 1 in 2 GPs feel unprepared to support mums with birth trauma, despite 200,000 affected each year
A new report into the state of birth trauma awareness among frontline health professionals has revealed a stark gap in how well-equipped GPs feel to support new mums – with 55% saying their training hasn’t prepared them adequately to recognise or respond to signs of birth trauma.
The findings come from Make Birth Better’s latest National Birth Trauma Survey, part of its ongoing #ThinkTraumaNow campaign. The survey focused on GPs and Health Visitors (HVs), who play a pivotal role in the postnatal care of mums and birthing people. With around 1 in 3 women in the UK experiencing some form of birth trauma – that’s 200,000 new parents each year – the results are a wake-up call for postnatal mental health care.
GPs lack training and confidence – despite rising awareness
While awareness is high (92% of GPs and 98% of HVs recognise that birth trauma exists), many professionals feel they simply don’t have the tools to provide support when it matters most.
Just over half of GPs admitted they didn’t feel confident signposting parents to appropriate help. Only 1.5% said they felt very confident doing so. A GP respondent commented, “This wasn’t taught at medical school when I was there – not even recognised at that time. It’d be good to have more articles in medical journals or via local GP websites.”
When it comes to knowledge of local services available to help, only 11% of GPs reported feeling knowledgeable, and just one person said they were very knowledgeable. Nearly half (48%) felt they lacked knowledge altogether.
Health Visitors are more confident – but not without gaps
HVs appear to fare better, with nearly three-quarters saying their training equipped them well to deal with birth trauma, and 89% feeling confident in signposting parents to support. However, 1 in 4 HVs still reported that their training didn’t leave them feeling equipped to handle birth trauma, and 12% said they lacked knowledge of support services in their area.
One HV commented, “More training and awareness would be beneficial to all HVs to better support people through this experience.”
Another said, “The knowledge I have gained is through my own reading and research, not through training I have received.”
Parents say they’re not being asked about their birth experience
Perhaps most striking is the disconnect between professionals and parents. While 86% of GPs and 99% of HVs said they ask about a patient’s birth experience, Make Birth Better’s parallel survey of 850 parents paints a different picture: only 14.8% of parents said their GP asked about the emotional impact of birth, and just 31.5% said their HV did.
This suggests that, even when the topic is raised, it may not be framed in a way that parents recognise as support – or perhaps isn’t given the time it needs. One GP noted, “With referrals we often go round in circles as different services say they are not the right fit for birth trauma… and maternal health suffers.”
Overstretched services and unclear pathways
The report also highlights the strain on existing birth trauma services. Both GPs and HVs reported that pathways are unclear, services are overstretched, and parents are often “sent around in circles” when trying to access help. Even where services do exist – such as hospital-based birth debriefs – they are often unavailable due to high demand.
One HV shared, “Birth debriefing services at the hospital haven’t been available in recent years as they’re oversubscribed.”
The top services GPs and HVs do signpost to
Despite the challenges, both groups consistently referred parents to three main services:
- NHS Talking Therapies
- NHS Community Perinatal Mental Health Teams
- Birth Debriefing Services
What needs to change?
Make Birth Better’s campaign is now calling for:
- Mandatory birth trauma training for all GPs and HVs
- Clearer referral pathways and better awareness of local resources
- Routine birth trauma screening at the 6-week GP check and Health Visitor visits
Campaigns Lead Evelien Docherty summed it up: “We need birth trauma to be as well-known as postnatal depression and the menopause.”
With 1 in 3 mums and birthing people affected by traumatic births, and many still suffering in silence, it’s clear that the system needs an urgent reset.
Want to know more or get involved? Visit makebirthbetter.org
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Authors
Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.