042 - Amy Dawes - ABTA - Let’s Start The Conversation About Birth Trauma

In this interview we talk to Amy Dawes, founder of the Australasian Birth Trauma Association (ABTA).
ABTA is a national charity committed to reducing the instance and impact of birth-related trauma whilst supporting affected women, families and health professionals.

Amy discussed:
- her birth experience and diagnosis of pelvic organ prolapse 16 months later. She talked about how this diagnosis affected her psychologically and impacted on her quality of life. She became scared of doing any movement or exercise and felt that she would make things worse.
- how, with some assistance of a pelvic health physiotherapist and connecting with other women who had returned to exercise after prolapse diagnosis, Amy started to feel more confident in her body
- how she connected with Elizabeth Skinner, psychologist, who mentioned the need for a birth trauma association here in Australia...and how the ABTA was formed (and a special shoutout to Christine Percy and Christine Pistone!).
- the goals of the ABTA and how they support women through Peer to Peer mentoring.
- that birth trauma can be physical, psychological or both.
- the need for more comprehensive antenatal education, so women are aware of the potential risks associated with birth, without scaring the heck out of them. "Why didn't anyone tell me that this could happen?"
- the fact that health care providers can also suffer trauma associated with supporting women in birth and that they don't always receive the help that they need.
- how important it is to have care in birth that is supportive, nurturing and empowering.
- how birth can trigger past trauma, which women may need psychological help for
- how we can help support the ABTA and spread the word of these services to the community

The ABTA relies on donations, so if you would like to help please reach out to the ABTA via the links below. Please share this information with anyone who you think might benefit!

Website: https://www.birthtrauma.org.au/ 
Email: amy@birthtrauma.org.au 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/birthtrauma.org.au/ 
Twitter: @AusBirthTrauma