After your birth

Birth Matters Service offers a safe, supportive space to talk through your pregnancy, birth or postnatal experience - whether you are currently pregnant or have already had your baby.

The service can support you if you:

• are pregnant and would like to explore your options or develop a personalised care plan

• have specific needs or wishes that you feel would benefit from further discussion

• have questions or worries about a previous birth

• experienced complications or events that felt distressing or traumatic.

If you have already had your baby, the service provides an opportunity to talk in depth with an experienced midwife about your pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal journey. This is sometimes called a “birth reflections” or “debrief” appointment.

Birth Matters gives you time to reflect, understand why decisions were made, and make sense of events that may have felt unexpected or difficult. It is common to feel upset, anxious, or confused about aspects of your experience - especially if things happened quickly or did not go as planned. The service offers space to be heard and supported.

 

Post‑Traumatic Stress Symptoms

Some people may experience symptoms of Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following a birth that was very stressful, frightening or distressing. These symptoms may settle naturally in the weeks and months after birth, but others may need support such as Trauma‑Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).

The Birth Matters Service does not provide psychological therapies, but you can speak with your GP, midwife or health visitor, who can guide you toward appropriate support.

 

When Birth Matters may not be the right service

Birth Matters is not the most suitable service if you:

• wish to raise concerns or make a complaint about your care

• have experienced a pregnancy loss or the death of your baby

• experienced surgical or anaesthetic complications, or were admitted to intensive care

• are experiencing ongoing symptoms of PTSD.

Your maternity healthcare professional will be able to advise and signpost you to the most appropriate service for your needs.

 

How to be referred?

You can be referred to Birth Matters by any maternity‑related health professional, including your:

• Midwife

• Obstetrician

• GP

• Health visitor

• Other maternity services within the district

 

When will I be seen?

It is usually not helpful to be referred in the first few days after birth, when it is normal to feel emotional as you begin to process your experience. Many people find their feelings settle with time, and early support from your midwife or health visitor can be helpful.

Waiting times for Birth Matters vary depending on demand, but are typically 2 to 4 months. If you are pregnant, it is best to be referred as early as possible, so an appointment can be arranged before your baby is born.

If you're looking for support with the increased cost of living, take a look at our  cost of living useful contacts document. It features website links and phone numbers for organisations offering financial advice, employment support, clothes banks, mental health support and much more besides.