Wales Funds Study on Birth Injuries Affecting 20% of Women, Targeting Support Gaps
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 14
Wales Funds Study on Birth Injuries Affecting 20% of Women, Targeting Support Gaps
1 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 14
Health and Care Research Wales has funded the Pelvic Power Partnership to study birth injuries and why women in marginalised communities are not accessing pelvic health support.
20% of women are affected by bowel or anal incontinence, most commonly caused by birth injury, while clinicians say services in Cardiff and Vale mainly see white women—suggesting others may be going untreated.
Geeta Nayar and Rhi, both injured during childbirth 17 years ago, said they were discharged or dismissed without proper help, then lived for years with incontinence, shame and major disruption to work and family life.
Wales and England have introduced OASI care bundles and earlier physiotherapy referrals in some maternity units, but the new project aims to identify cultural, language and stigma barriers still driving inequality.
With early surgery proven more effective, why are women waiting months for life-altering birth injury repairs?
Could a simple postpartum ultrasound end the silent suffering for thousands of mothers with hidden childbirth injuries?
UK Birth Trauma Inquiry 2024: Systemic Failures, Racial Inequities, and the Urgent Need for Maternity Care Reform
Overview
The UK Birth Trauma Inquiry, launched in May 2024, exposed harrowing experiences from mothers nationwide and revealed significant systemic failures in maternity care. The findings showed that the current system is simply not good enough and does not meet NHS expectations, prompting a national reckoning and urgent calls for comprehensive reform. The inquiry especially highlighted that women from marginalized groups, particularly ethnic minorities, often received disproportionately poor care and faced both direct and indirect racism, which seriously affected their care quality. These revelations have driven a strong demand for change to ensure safer, fairer, and more respectful maternity services for all.