Overview

• Birth Trauma Australia’s study released during Birth Trauma Awareness Week identifies emergency interventions and inadequate pain management as leading causes of birth trauma
• Research links birth injuries to pelvic organ prolapse, painful sex, urinary incontinence, relationship strain and challenges returning to work
• Almost 60% of women diagnosed with a birth-related injury more than a year post-delivery report severe mental health consequences, including suicidal ideation
• A 2024 NSW parliamentary inquiry made 43 recommendations to overhaul maternal care, but national rollout of postnatal screening and treatment pathways remains minimal
• The petition calls for a National Strategy mandating postnatal screening, clear referral pathways and funded access to physiotherapy, psychological support and rehabilitative care, supported by nearly 5,000 members in peer networks