This international Birth Trauma Awareness Week from July 14-20, Birth Trauma Aotearoa invites Mums, parents and whānau to do “50 things” in support of New Zealand’s birth trauma community.

Birth Trauma Aotearoa’s annual campaign invites people to do 50 of something in order to acknowledge and honour the 50 birthing parents psychologically traumatised by birth per day in New Zealand.

“Research tells us one in three birthing people will report their birth as emotionally traumatic. That equates to around 50 people a day in Aotearoa leaving birth broken. These figures are shocking and they need to change,” said Birth Trauma Aotearoa’s founder and chief executive Kate Hicks.

“Those who experience birth trauma often feel very alone, forgotten and even silenced when they express the need for support. This Birth Trauma Awareness Week we’re saying ‘you’re not alone and we’re working for you’”.

Founder and CEO of Birth Trauma Aotearoa Kate Hicks. Photo: Supplied / Kate Hicks

Last year, people from all over New Zealand participated in 50 for 50 – mums, parents, businesses will be doing 50 of all kinds of things over the week to raise awareness and much needed funds to support Birth Trauma Aotearoa’s mahi.

“The beauty of 50 for 50 is that people can do it however it works for them. They can do something big, or something small, private or shared. Last year we had people do 50 squats; gather 50 people together, plant 50 seeds; read 50 pages of their book,” said Hicks.

“Whatever people do, we’re grateful they are acknowledging that birth trauma exists, it’s hugely prevalent and we need to minimise that prevalence as well as improve support following trauma.

"We’ve heard report after report telling us the importance of supporting maternal mental health. We need to focus on solutions, looking at the strengths of whānau and getting them the support they need."

Birth Trauma Aotearoa is a charitable trust working in the birth trauma space across Aotearoa. Birth Trauma Aotearoa undertakes advocacy, education, research and support services regarding both physical and psychological birth trauma.