This international Birth Trauma Awareness Week (July
14-20), Birth Trauma Aotearoa invites Mums, parents and
whānau to do “50 things” in support of Aotearoa’s
birth trauma community.
Birth Trauma Aotearoa’s
annual campaign invites people to do 50 of something in
order to acknowledge and honour the 50 birthing parents
psychologically traumatised by birth PER
DAY in New Zealand.
“Research tells
us one in three birthing people will report their
birth as emotionally traumatic. That equates to around
50 people a day in Aotearoa leaving birth
broken. These figures are shocking and they need to
change,” said Birth Trauma Aotearoa’s founder and chief
executive Kate Hicks.
“Those who
experience birth trauma often feel very alone, forgotten and
even silenced when they express the need for support. This
Birth Trauma Awareness Week we’re saying ‘you’re not
alone and we’re working for
you’”.
Last year, people from all
over Aotearoa participated in 50 for 50 – mums, parents,
businesses will be doing 50 of all kinds of things over the
week to raise awareness and much needed funds to support
Birth Trauma Aotearoa’s mahi.
“The beauty of 50
for 50 is that people can do it however it works for them.
They can do something big, or something small, private or
shared. Last year we had people do 50 squats; gather 50
people together, plant 50 seeds; read 50 pages of their
book” said Kate.
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“Whatever people do,
we’re grateful they are acknowledging that birth trauma
exists, it’s hugely prevalent and we need to minimise that
prevalence as well as improve support following trauma.
We’ve heard report after report telling us the importance
of supporting maternal mental health. We need to focus on
solutions, looking at the strengths of whānau and getting
them the support they need”.
Birth Trauma
Aotearoa is a charitable trust working in the birth trauma
space across Aotearoa. Birth Trauma Aotearoa undertakes
advocacy, education, research and support services regarding
both physical and psychological birth
trauma.
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