Thousands of women across the UK develop undiagnosed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) each year after giving birth, new research has found.
According to a report, the condition is being missed in at least 15,000 women as many GPs mistake PTSD for postnatal depression, which means they do not urgently receive specialist help.
The warning comes after two damning reports into maternity and neonatal services in England from Baroness Amos and Donna Ockenden, which found that mothers and babies were being failed by the NHS.
The report, conducted by University of East Anglia and published in the British Journal of General Practice, has urged the health service to better equip GPs to ensure more women don’t fall through the gaps.
According to recent figures, suicide remained the leading cause of death among women between six weeks and one year after pregnancy in the UK during 2021-2023.
These deaths have been described as the “tip of the iceberg”, arguing that many more women are living with serious mental health difficulties but are unable to access the support they need.
Lead researcher and GP Dr Megan Foreman, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “Research shows that around one in 20 postnatal women develop PTSD, which is equivalent to tens of thousands of mothers across the UK.
“It usually happens after a traumatic pregnancy or delivery, but it can also happen after a medically uncomplicated birth.
“The consequences of untreated birth trauma for women and families can be far-reaching.
“Some women become so anxious that they repeatedly seek reassurance from healthcare professionals for themselves or their baby. Others avoid healthcare services altogether, including during future pregnancies.
“They may also request elective Caesarean sections in later pregnancies to regain a sense of control. Or others may reject recommended medical care or opt for home births, even in high-risk pregnancies, to avoid interventions associated with their previous experience.”
While birth trauma is mentioned in national guidance from NICE and NHS England, the report shows that GPs are not given practical advice on how to measure the severity or assess the risks posed.
As a result, Dr Foreman said doctors are effectively “diagnosing in the dark” without the right information to make proper assessments.
Misdiagnosis can be detrimental to women with PTSD because they are then prescribed antidepressants, which are not as effective for treating the condition as psychological therapy.
Dr Foreman said: “Many new mothers attend appointments with their newborns, often combining their own health check with baby examinations or vaccinations. Some may not yet feel able to discuss a traumatic birth experience.
“Asking the wrong questions at the wrong time could leave women feeling unsupported or retraumatised.”
The report warned that any future guidance should be accompanied by better GP training, improved awareness and clear referral pathways into specialist services.
“GPs are uniquely placed to spot warning signs,” said Dr Foreman. “But without better evidence and practical tools, many mothers with childbirth-related PTSD risk being left to cope alone, without the support they need.”
Professor Victoria Tzortziou-Brown, president of the Royal College of GPs, said: “This paper highlights an important gap in how we identify and support women experiencing PTSD following childbirth. Giving birth can be traumatic for some women, and it is vital that those experiencing significant psychological distress are recognised and able to access the right support.
“The six-to-eight-week postnatal check is an important opportunity for GPs to discuss a woman’s physical and mental wellbeing, as well as the health of her baby. But childbirth-related PTSD can be complex to identify. Symptoms may overlap with depression, anxiety and other postnatal mental health problems, and may not become apparent until months after the birth.
“Recognition therefore cannot depend on a single consultation. Women need joined-up support throughout the postnatal period, across maternity services, health visiting, general practice and specialist mental health services.
“We would welcome better evidence, guidance and appropriate tools to support GPs and other healthcare professionals in recognising childbirth-related PTSD. But this must be accompanied by sufficient time to have these important conversations and, crucially, timely access to specialist perinatal mental health services when women need them.”
