'I was in a dog bed, screaming' - mums share real stories of birth trauma
Reality star and author Louise Thompson is opening up a national conversation about birth trauma
Last updated 17th Feb 2025
Hits Radio is shining a spotlight on the issue of Birth Trauma, and letting you know where you can get help if its happened to you.
It's an issue that impacts up to 30,000 women every single year, leaving 4-5% of new mums dealing with PTSD. An issue coming at a time we're told will be one of the happiest of our lives.
Impact of birth trauma on new mums
Made in Chelsea star Louise Thompson is on a mission to normalise the conversation about birth trauma, after her experience with her son Leo. Louise gave birth to Leo in November 2019 - but it was far from straightforward.
Louise had to undergo an emergency operation, and her new son was delivered by emergency caesarean. To compound the situation he also stopped breathing for a short time and two separate haemorrhages saw Louise lose 'litres' of blood.
Further health complications later meant Louise have her colon removed, and a stoma fitted.
It's no surprise that her experience left her with post-traumatic stress disorder. And she's not alone.
What is birth trauma?
Her experience echoes that of thousands of women each year, who come away from childbirth having gone through trauma.
Each case can be very different. Some reflect very long or very short labours, others are about physical issues while some are to do with thoughts and emotions.
Some birth trauma can be about concerns for baby's health, while others are about issues with the level of care on offer to mums at the time.
Around one in 20 new mums will develop PTSD as a result of their experience, and around 1% of birth partners also develop issues as a result of what they've witnessed from a bedside.
Louise Thompson's birth trauma story
Speaking to her brother Sam Thompson on Hits Radio Talks... Birth Trauma Louise said: "Out of nowhere my entire world fell apart when I gave birth, I nearly died on several occasions.
"I was suicidal, my family was saying if (health support) don't come round, if there isn't support this girl will kill herself, and you shouldn't have to get to that place to be seen.
"I was lying in a dog bed screaming, not knowing where I was, what my name was, where I lived, I was at rock bottom.
"I'm doing all of this for those people (impacted by birth trauma) because sadly I did receive messages from partners of women who've given birth and then did give up and I cannot sit back and let that happen again to anybody else."
Listen to the full interview here:
Asking for help for birth trauma
Dr Kim Thomas from the Birth Trauma Association joins Louise on the Rayo special, alongside other mums who're sharing their experience of birth trauma.
She's encouraging people who've been affected by birth trauma to talk about it, and to give people ideas around how to listen to those who want to speak out.
Speaking to Louise, Dr Kim said: "It's really important that you speak up, or that other people speak up for you.
"You've been through a really traumatic experience, you deserve to be heard, and you need to be gentle with yourself...I'd really urge people to get help if they can, because therapeutic help is the best way of getting through this.
"One of the things women do say a lot is that people around them say 'you need to get over this' or 'you need to snap out of this' but that doesn't recognise the nature of PTSD which is a mental disorder and you can't just snap out of it."
Louise adds: "There's a reason we're given two ears and one mouth. Sometimes the best gift you can give to someone is to listen and not to feel as if you always need to give advice."