Information and support in one place.
The perineum (area between the vagina and anus) may tear when a baby is delivered. The skin of the perineum usually stretches well, but it may tear, especially in women who are giving birth for the first time. There are different sizes and extent of perineal tears and the time it takes to recover from a perineal tear will depend on the extent of the tear. A serious or severe tear is more likely to take longer to heal.
A doctor or midwife may need to make a cut in the perineum during childbirth which is called an episiotomy if the baby needs to be born quickly.
Support organisations and charities
FLY Mama is a trauma informed online platform which supports you physically and emotionally following perinatal trauma and loss.
We have carefully designed our pre-recorded bundles to allow you to access professional and safe support that you can trust at your fingertips.
We provide Women’s Health education talks and clinically led Pilates classes led by our specialist Physiotherapist aswell as nervous system education and regulation talks and trauma informed Yoga and Breathwork classes from our somatic trauma specialist.
We also provide you with Matrescence coaching and journaling classes from our motherhood coach and finally, we are building a supportive online community where you can gain support from women and birthing people who have been through similar experiences to you.
We believe that you deserve safe and expert advise that is sensitive to your needs and understanding of your situaltion and we are honoured to provide this for you.”
Support organisations and charities
MASIC.
The MASIC Foundation is the only multi-disciplinary UK charity to support women who have suffered severe injuries during childbirth known as OASI (Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries). OASI injuries are a leading cause of bowel incontinence in women and can have a devastating impact on quality of life – affecting a woman’s long-term health, relationships, lifestyle and employment.
Our charity is run by injured women and healthcare professionals who are committed to better detection and prevention of injury during childbirth
Legal advice.
If the worst occurs, like any complaint or claim, it is vital to seek advice as soon as possible. If suitable, you may be invited to speak with your treating doctors to discuss the events that led to the death and to provide you with an opportunity to ask questions. On some occasions it is not immediately clear what the cause of death was, and a post-mortem examination may be advised. A post-mortem is a type of autopsy and examination performed on the baby to determine the cause of death.
This is an important step to take in terms of registering the death and on some occasions involving genetic conditions, can be used to monitor and treat future pregnancies. In some cases, the hospital may wish to conduct an investigation into the circumstances around your child’s death. As part of this process, they may look at your medical records, speak with you and your partner and the staff involved in your care. If this takes place you are entitled to a copy of any investigation report, any comments obtained from the staff and a set of your medical records.
This should be conducted with the upmost respect and sympathy to you and your family and you should be referred to the patient liaison services or complaint team for support. Consideration should be made as to whether a referral for counselling or further treatment is required.
