Post by Peppy

This week is Birth Trauma Awareness Week (13–19th July) 💛 "I thought I'd be spending my maternity leave getting to know my baby. Instead, I was trying to make sense of what had happened to me." That's from a parent who used Peppy's Birth Reflections service. This is someone who pictured cuddles and embracing parenthood, and got something completely different instead. 1 in 3 parents in the UK say some part of their birth felt traumatic. Most don't tell their manager. A lot don't even tell their friends or family, not really. They just... go back to work, smile, and get on with it. Meanwhile they're managing flashbacks, or guilt, or navigating a body that still shows evidence of their experience, or a fear they can't explain. The Birth Trauma Association recently surveyed 903 parents, highlighting the far-reaching impact birth trauma can have on families' lives: 🟡 72% say it's hit their career 🟡 64% have felt it in their bank balance 🟡 Over half have paid for private support because they were unable to access timely support that they needed from the NHS And it's not only the person who gave birth. Partners are carrying it too - replaying moments that scared them, while trying to hold the family together and look okay at their desk. One of the Peppy midwives, Samantha Price, told us about a parent who accessed Peppy's Birth Reflections service: "You're the first medical professional I've spoken to about what I went through. You really properly listened to me... and were the first to reassure me that it's alright I couldn't just let go of it." When employers acknowledge that some parents may still be processing difficult birth experiences, it can make a real difference to how seen and supported they feel during what can be a very vulnerable time. Learn more about what you can do as an employer. Link in the comments 👇 #PregnancyandParenthood #BirthTrauma #EmployeeHealth