I'd like to give a minute of my time to Laura Anne Jones, Huw Irranca-Davies and Carolyn Thomas, if I could, please. 

Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder is a serious issue. In Wales alone over 9,000 women are suffering, sometimes in silence. Mothers have kept their symptoms to themselves so the condition has remained invisible, to a great extent. Many mothers, unfortunately, are sometimes wrongly diagnosed with postpartum depression, when in fact the trauma of a difficult birth or events directly concerning or complications after a birth can leave a mother suffering with postpartum PTSD. This can include flashbacks of traumatic moments throughout labour that has a mother reliving the fear of the trauma, troubling dreams and nightmares, symptoms of anxiety and not wanting to discuss or be reminded of the events surrounding the birth, and also feelings of isolation and hopelessness.

The birth of a child is one of the most intense and emotional experiences in a woman’s life, but, sometimes the best-planned births can quickly become an event where sadly anything but joy and happiness is felt. PTSD can have a detrimental effect on the mother and infant bond, causing distress to both mother and child. Early intervention is vital, and we are so lucky that the dedicated midwives and health professionals who are involved in the care of an expectant or new mother are key for this early diagnosis to take place. One study showed that 45 per cent of women experienced traumatic childbirth and up to 4.6 per cent of women developed PTSD. There are many reasons for a traumatic childbirth. An emergency caesarean section, intervention during labour, prolonged labour and injuries suffered during birth are just a few of the many reasons this can occur.

My own personal experience was not a traumatic birth, but the traumatic events that followed directly after and as a direct result of the birth. Those events have, and still do impact on my everyday life. I was told repeatedly by midwives and consultants how lucky I was, lucky to have survived and lucky to have had a quick-thinking midwife. 'Lucky'—lucky was a word I became used to hearing over the days, weeks and months following the birth of my daughter. But lucky was the last thing I was feeling: frightened, traumatised, confused, alone and anxious; these were words more fitting to my mindset. In some ways, I suppose I was lucky; lucky I had a team of dedicated midwives who soon became friends, and consultants who were caring and understanding. The care I received at hospital and when I eventually returned home was nothing short of outstanding; however, how many new mothers and mothers-to-be will not be lucky? How many mothers and lone mothers are suffering in silence? How many husbands, partners, families and friends are trying to support and care for a mother who is traumatised? Sometimes the birth partner who witnesses the upsetting experience also takes their own measure of distress and anxiety away from the birth; who is there to support them?