We're delighted that Charlie Thomas is raising funds for us by climbing Whernside, one of Yorkshire's highest peaks, just three months after birth. You can donate here - every little helps. www.justgiving.com/page/charlie...

"The NHS does not publish data on why an emergency C-section is performed, and experts say there is no single, clear explanation for the increase." It's massively frustrating that the NHS does not produce the relevant data, which would be extremely valuable information. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

We want to find out more about the cost of birth trauma: financial, physical and psychological. Please tell us how your birth trauma affected you - our survey takes about 10 minutes. us10.list-manage.com/survey?u=55e...

Shocking and distressing account of failings in Nottingham. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Sky News has provided a valuable service in highlighting the most common themes raised about maternity in social media. Some of these stories are desperately sad. news.sky.com/story/matern...

'Sarah said: “If they had listened to me when I said something was wrong, they would have found the bleed much sooner.' www.thesun.co.uk/health/39150...

"The co-founder of a campaign raising concerns about maternity care at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH), claims that senior doctors, midwives, and clerical workers at the hospital have inappropriately viewed her confidential notes." www.newstatesman.com/investigatio...

In the past few years, we've seen a number of family groups organise to draw attention to failings in local maternity care. The latest is Cornwall Maternity Stories, launched by Sian and Jon. cornwallmaternitystories.org.uk

The members of the Expert Reference Groups for the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce have been published, and we are pleased to be a member of the Charity and third sector ERG, where we will speak up for parents harmed by maternity care. www.gov.uk/government/g...

We're delighted that Jonathan Shaw is going to be taking part in the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run Half Marathon on 31 May. The funds raised will help us to support more mothers and fathers affected by traumatic birth. www.justgiving.com/page/jonatha...

Really pleased to see the introduction of this innovation that could help save lives. Postpartum haemorrhage is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

'In my practice, I hear versions of the same sentence every week: “I thought I was just a bad mother.” That sentence is a diagnostic failure. It means that somewhere along the way, a woman’s suffering was reframed as inadequacy.' www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

"There is a mismatch between women’s expectations and healthcare professionals’ approaches to communicating and providing obstetric analgesia." Well, quite. Would urge all maternity professionals to read this study. www.obstetanesthesia.com/article/S095...

All too often, cases of placenta accreta spectrum are missed. "Worryingly, six out of 10 of the 100 women say their PAS went undiagnosed, increasing the risk of them bleeding to death." www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Home births are restarting in Gloucestershire: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...?

Felt very encouraged by the positivity in the OdonAssist event today at the QEII centre - is has been used successfully with 400 women in the UK, and both obstetricians and midwives are enthusiastic about its potential. More about how it works here: www.mumsnet.com/articles/ass...

We're really pleased to be a part of this important project, which is looking at a gentler alternative to forceps and Ventouse. www.thetimes.com/article/79c6...

One in 25 women develop PTSD after birth. The introduction in England of maternal mental health services for birth trauma & baby loss was a positive step - but they are overstretched. Now we need a commitment from govt for sustainable funding for MMHS. #MaternalMentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness

This is potentially very exciting. Pre-eclampsia is a common and highly risky complication of pregnancy. Some of the women we see have had very frightening experiences of pre-eclampsia. www.scientificamerican.com/article/bloo...

A MASSIVE thank you to Kelly-Anne Barnes, who ran the London marathon for us and raised £1,337. If you'd like to show your appreciation of her achievement, and help us to support more parents with birth trauma, her page is at: www.justgiving.com/page/everyst...

A Scottish documentary-maker is making a film about women in rural Scotland having to travel long distances to give birth. Really good to see someone raising this issue. Contact details are in the poster if you're interested in taking part.

'Every woman who goes through childbirth has, I believe, been through the equivalent of war. Or, as Medea says, “I would rather stand three times with a shield in battle than give birth once.”' Very moving from @AmandaPCraig www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Good luck to our supporter Kelly-Anne Barnes, who is running the London Marathon today. After her own traumatic birth experience, she has decided to help us to help others with birth trauma - and we're so grateful. You can support Kelly-Anne here: www.justgiving.com/page/everyst...

We have some more wonderful supporters from the North Wales Perinatal Mental Health Service fundraising for us this year. Thanks to Leo, Laura and Emma who'll be running the Snowdonia half marathon on 10 May. www.justgiving.com/page/btafund...

After her own traumatic birth, Kelly-Anne Barnes is giving something back by running the London Marathon for us. Supporting her helps us to support more parents with birth trauma: www.justgiving.com/page/everyst...

'A STRUCTURED pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) programme during pregnancy may significantly reduce severe perineal trauma during childbirth, according to an early-release clinical study.' www.emjreviews.com/urology/news...

The framework for addressing patient concerns in Wales is changing. The BTA's Wales officer, Chloe Lazenby, explains how it will work. www.birthtraumaassociation.org/news-campaig...

Many European countries have stopped using forceps - but they are still widely used in the UK, sometimes with devastating consequences. Sarah Jewell investigates. www.birthtraumaassociation.org/news-campaig...

Coming up shortly - a parliamentary debate on appointing a maternity commissioner: committees.parliament.uk/committee/32...

This year, we have 5 people running the London Landmarks Half Marathon for us on 12 April. The money they raise will help us support more parents affected by traumatic birth. One of the five, Sam Lisher, has raised more than £2k! You can support him, and us, at: www.justgiving.com/page/samuel-...

Two days left in this week's free legal clinic with Claudia Hillemand of @BoltBurdonKemp - there is still time to make an appointment. To book your free 30-minute consultation with Claudia, please phone her on 020 7288 4843 or email her at [email protected]

"The new polling, commissioned by Lime Solicitors, found 30 per cent of women said their childbirth experience left them with mental health issues, while 13 per cent reported long-term psychological damage after giving birth." Alarmingly high. www.gbnews.com/health/child...

"They should've got me in straight away, they should've seen me as soon as I turned up to hospital because I was classed as high risk, they should have listened to the midwives that were watching that CTG quite closely but everything got overruled [by the doctors]." www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...?

Next week, Claudia Hillemand, of Bolt Burdon Kemp, will be offering a free legal clinic for women who have experienced birth trauma. To book your free 30-minute consultation with Claudia, please phone her on 020 7288 4843 or email her at [email protected]

“I was terrified to fall asleep; I don't want to fall asleep and not wake up. I did not realize that my fear was because of the emergency c-section until later.” Interesting piece of qualitative research into birth trauma in Utah. d36oiwf74r1rap.cloudfront.net/wp-content/u...

Last chance to make a submission to the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation today. www.matneoinv.org.uk/call-for-evi...

Claudia Hillemand, a partner at @BoltBurdonKemp , one of our trusted legal partners, will be offering free initial legal consultations from Mon 23–Fri 27 March to answer your questions about medical negligence. To book a 30-minute consultation, email [email protected]

Mothers for Mothers does great work supporting new mothers with mental health problems. Let's hope they receive the funding they need to continue. www.northsomersettimes.co.uk/news/2593045...

Gem King is, amazingly, running an ultramarathon for us, helping us to support more parents affected by birth trauma. Read her moving story here: www.justgiving.com/page/gem-kin...

If you haven't responded to the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation's call for evidence, please do so now. The closing date is 17 March. www.matneoinv.org.uk/call-for-evi...

Really pleased to have the opportunity to talk to Olivia Boschat of Bolt Burdon Kemp about the national maternity and neonatal investigation run by Baroness Amos: tinyurl.com/4pcarpx8

Another alarming story from OUH. www.banburyguardian.co.uk/health/the-m...

Huge thanks to Beth Guilding who's running the London Landmarks half marathon to raise money to help us support more women who have had traumatic birth experiences. Do read her story - and donate if you can! www.justgiving.com/page/beth-gu...

This has a very dubious emphasis on reducing trauma by improving women's "confidence" in labour. It doesn't recognise the main source of trauma, which is the labour experience itself, and the way women are treated by caregivers. www.murdoch.edu.au/news/article...

Amie Drew is conducting research on dads' mental health. Please use the following link for more information on the study: tinyurl.com/bdp4nazx or scan the QR code on the poster! If you would like to take part, please contact [email protected]

"One family shared a harrowing account of their prolonged suffering after their baby’s death. They described a lack of postnatal health care for the mother’s physical needs...and a heavily adversarial, legalistic system lasting over 3 years." www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-n...

Some very welcome recommendations in the Wales maternity review including joined up national leadership and urgent attention to critical clinical safety issues in triage and induction of labour. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

New podcast from Times News: Inside England's Maternity Scandal. www.youtube.com/watch?v=flu3...

We are inviting women in the North West to take part in a short interview as part of the AMOS Maternity Review. 📍Liverpool City Centre 🗓 5 March (daytime) 💷 Payment for time & expenses We are keen to hear from marginalised groups. Email: [email protected]

Good news. 'Leo's in Middlesbrough, which supports families who have experienced the loss of a baby or difficult births, will receive the money over the next three years from The Pilgrim Trust to support women aged 16 to 25.' www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...