Birth practices and Psychological health by Joy Wisdom
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Celebs are speaking about their horrific experiences of birth trauma, highlighting to society the need for new approaches at birth.
I have written and spoken about birth trauma for over 25 years. My own professional anidotal and personal experience has accumulated great insights on this matter and unfortunately the daily risks continue, globally, some fifty years on from when my son experienced a fast birth and suffered birth trauma! No one could tell me how to support my son in 1974, they didn’t know… 50 years on birth trauma is still not acknowledged or dealt with effectively!
Fact is professional neglect is causing long term mental, emotional health issues which is part of the answer of elevated anxiety, fear, stress, psychological, emotional vulnerability, ADHD continuance. See 2023 trial info below.
It is even more critical to correct the impacts of birth trauma than ever before! Modern outlooks continue to spotlight mothers PTSD and depression after childbirth can and do affecting the brain and cognitive development of their infant.
The harm and abuse given while women are in birth practices seems to miss the impact of shock and unexpected adverse trauma experienced by mother, baby and dad. Incredible in this day and age. Although recognised as a tick box experiencing shock nothing effective is being applied to release the individual and infant from the long term adverse trauma event! Cause and effect is of birth trauma is churned out daily.
A pill won’t get to the crux of the matter and the apathy of health professionals without a medication is appauling. No understanding or compassion exists to the parental outcomes. The long term ripple trauma effect often going beyond the parent to grandparent and siblings. Professional structure is sadly lacking and a lot to be desired in 2025.
A recent 2023 Spanish a PPQ-based study exposed the emotional and mental impacts of treatment in women in pregnancy and birth process as being a core PTSD issue for women and their babies. Showing the relationship between the perception of disrespectful treatment and abuse during childbirth, ongoing risks of postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder. In other words our women are being abused in pregnancy and birth, and the birth plan is not enough to correct uncompassionate ongoing practices.
“The 2023 Spanish study spotlighted practices that included excessive or unnecessary medicalisation, non-consensual or inappropriate interventions—such as performing episiotomies without consent, conducting painful procedures without anaesthesia, or forcing women to give birth in a specific position. Finds included physical or verbal abuse, limitation of autonomy, and lack of emotional support or adequate information.
This form of violence can also be psychological, taking the shape of infantilising, paternalistic, authoritarian, humiliating, or degrading treatment, including verbal insults, depersonalisation, or mocking behaviour.
The study observed that inadequate treatment by professionals was the dimension that obtained the most correlation, followed by emotional abuse, family separation, and physical abuse. The “inappropriate treatment” dimension covers issues related to communication problems, privacy violation, and inappropriate or unnecessary techniques.
Furthermore, in recent years, various international institutions and social groups have revealed a substantial growth in practices and behaviours on the part of health professionals, which, both by action and omission, are disrespectful in terms of physical and emotional aspects. https://www.elpartoesnuestro.es/blog/2023/05/16/violencia-obstetrica-en-espana-el-informe-de-lacomisaria-de-derechos-humanos-del (Accessed January 01, 2025).
It is the training and understanding of professionals that needs urgent action.
All the above was found in my professional cranio sacral interactions with women and their babies going back to early millennia. (As described in my Pregnancy & Birth book 2010) cold and unfeeling personal and professional beliefs in practices are still rolled out. Various investigations from clinical groups, universities etc., have reported the same outcomes. However nothing changes… or taken on board. The apathy of medical trusts has a lot to be desired. Women are not machines. Have incredible accentuated feelings while pregnant.
“2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed a model of childbirth care focused on women and their babies, seeking to integrate perinatal mental health into maternal and childcare. This model prioritizes the birth experience as a fundamental element to guarantee quality care, which means creating a safe environment from a clinical and psychological point of view that ensures the highest degree of maternal well-being and satisfaction in relation to a women’s birth experience.
All falling on deaf ears……. Even celebs who tell their extreme birth stories on media and TV are ignored… apologies are not enough we need to stop these abusive barbaric practices worldwide; prevention is the KEY.
Wake up to allow our children to be born in a safe and secure way. Birth is meant to be a magical and sacred event, instead with medicalisation of birth, professionals have turned birth into a traumatic event with long term risks and health impacts…. Ignorant to the consequences and longevity they are responsible for. No one seems to join the dots!
What a way to start life… no wonder we have anxious, vulnerable children! Parents unable to cope due to their own psychological health and PTSD impacts… children are suffering from a double whammy being fed from the home and personal adverse trauma.
Neglect, abuse experiences = Trauma starts at birth!
Women’s needs are not met. And the 2018 W.H.O structure has gone unheard. Women have a right to care, compassion and support in their birth experience, sometimes intervention is required, however human compassion, nurturing is required. Women are not machines. Medics require training to recognise the need for emotional release methods to help after the event. To prevent long term health issues.
The critical path of training and education is required for professionals to get up to speed on the new thinking. And UK is way behind Europe… where did we go wrong?
Joy Wisdom Trust offers professional education on the reality of birth trauma
prevent and avoid with 1-2-1 birth trauma assistance, support and emotional release. A few sessions is all it takes for baby; adults may need longer. Makes all the difference and parent and child can live a life avoiding PTSD forming when applied early.
If you know someone who has had a poor birth experience, contact or guide them to our website for specialist help from those who understand trauma support.
Contact for a JWT FREE horizon call, JWT has structures and programmes highlighting answers, practical help and clinical support. Offers pregnancy support programmes pre and post birth to help combat psychological, emotional trauma.
Joy Wisdom founder incorporates her findings and extensive knowledge into JWT programmes, providing excellence in health support for all ages.