Counting the Cost of Birth Trauma: The Economic Impact of Postnatal PTSD in the UK

Patricia Moran; Rose Meades; Susan Ayers; Kodchawan Doungsong; Kalpa Pisavadia; Catherine Best; Una Hutton; Fiona  Alderdice; Helen Cheyne; Rhiannon Tudor Edwards

Counting the Cost of Birth Trauma: The Economic Impact of Postnatal PTSD in the UK

Patricia Moran
, Rose Meades
, Susan Ayers
, Kodchawan Doungsong
, Kalpa Pisavadia
, Catherine Best
, Una Hutton
, Fiona Alderdice
, Helen Cheyne
, Rhiannon Tudor Edwards

Ysgol Gwyddorau Iechyd

City University, London, UK
Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport University of Stirling Stirling UK.
University of Oxford
University of Stirling
MAP ALLIANCE Study Team

Allbwn ymchwil: Llyfr/Adroddiad › Adroddiad Comisiwn › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

14 Wedi eu Llwytho i Lawr (Pure)

Crynodeb

At least one in five women in the United Kingdom (UK) describe their birthing experience as traumatic, while approximately one in 20 women develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth.

The 2024 All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Birth Trauma Inquiry highlighted the significant impact of birth trauma on women and families and called for research evidence
on the associated public health and wider societal costs of postnatal PTSD.

This briefing responds to that need by providing the first estimates of the economic costs associated with PTSD following birth in the UK, including healthcare utilisation and related outcomes for affected women. Our report draws on a survey of women tracked throughout pregnancy and up to two years after birth that assessed mental health and
health service use. The survey included assessment of postnatal PTSD, involving childbirth-related PTSD arising as a result of llabour and birthing experience, and PTSD arising from other traumatic experiences, such as assault. This briefing also provides extracts from a separate survey capturingwomen’s personal experiences of birth trauma
and its effects on their lives.

Iaith wreiddiol	Saesneg
Man cyhoeddi	London
Cyhoeddwr	City, St Georges, University of London
Nifer y tudalennau	17
Statws	Cyhoeddwyd - 10 Medi 2026

NDC y CU

Mae’r allbwn hwn yn cyfrannu at y Nod(au) Datblygu Cynaliadwy canlynol

NDC 3 Iechyd a Llesiant Da
NDC 5 Cydraddoldeb Rhywiol

Mynediad at Ddogfen

MAP ALLIANCE APPG Parliamentary reportTrwydded: !!Unspecified

https://www.mapstudy.org/research-study-summaries

1 Wedi Gorffen

MAP ALLIANCE (OptiMising cAre for Perinatal Anxiety: evaLuation of heaLth servIce utilisAtioN, outComEs and costs)
Edwards, R. T. (PY)
1/01/22 → 31/08/24
Project: Ymchwil

5 Erthygl
1 Erthygl adolygu

Healthcare professionals’ views on barriers, facilitators and optimisation of care for perinatal anxiety: a qualitative investigation
Hutton, U., Delicate, A., Moran, P. M., Ayers, S., Khan, R., Cheyne, H., Shakespeare, J., Maxwell, M., Hollins, K., Edwards, R. T., Sinesi, A. & Meades, R., 18 Chwef 2026, Yn: BMC Health Services Research. 26, 272.
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

Mynediad agored
Ffeil
4 Wedi eu Llwytho i Lawr (Pure)
Maternal anxiety and health service use after birth: cohort study
Ayers, S., Moran, P., Hutton, U., Strange, L., Cheyne, H., Maxwell, M., Best, C., Sinesi, A., Edwards, R. T., Pisavadia, K., Doungsong, K., Shakespeare, J. & Meades, R., 9 Medi 2026, Yn: BJPsych open. 12, 5, t. 1-8 8 t., e235.
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

Mynediad agored
Ffeil
2 Wedi eu Llwytho i Lawr (Pure)
Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder and health service use: A longitudinal cohort study
Moran, P., Best, C., Meades, R., Hutton, U., Doungsong, P., Pisavadia, K., Edwards, R. T., Maxwell, M., Sinesi, A., Shakespeare, J., Hollins, K. & Ayers, S., 10 Ion 2026, Yn: Journal of Affective Disorders. 400, 121171.
Allbwn ymchwil: Cyfraniad at gyfnodolyn › Erthygl › adolygiad gan gymheiriaid

Dyfynnu hyn

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title = "Counting the Cost of Birth Trauma: The Economic Impact of Postnatal PTSD in the UK",

abstract = "At least one in five women in the United Kingdom (UK) describe their birthing experience as traumatic, while approximately one in 20 women develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth. The 2024 All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Birth Trauma Inquiry highlighted the significant impact of birth trauma on women and families and called for research evidence on the associated public health and wider societal costs of postnatal PTSD. This briefing responds to that need by providing the first estimates of the economic costs associated with PTSD following birth in the UK, including healthcare utilisation and related outcomes for affected women. Our report draws on a survey of women tracked throughout pregnancy and up to two years after birth that assessed mental health and health service use. The survey included assessment of postnatal PTSD, involving childbirth-related PTSD arising as a result of llabour and birthing experience, and PTSD arising from other traumatic experiences, such as assault. This briefing also provides extracts from a separate survey capturingwomen{\textquoteright}s personal experiences of birth trauma and its effects on their lives. ",

author = "Patricia Moran and Rose Meades and Susan Ayers and Kodchawan Doungsong and Kalpa Pisavadia and Catherine Best and Una Hutton and Fiona Alderdice and Helen Cheyne and Edwards, \{Rhiannon Tudor\}",

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day = "10",

language = "English",

publisher = "City, St Georges, University of London",

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T1 - Counting the Cost of Birth Trauma: The Economic Impact of Postnatal PTSD in the UK

AU - Moran, Patricia

AU - Meades, Rose

AU - Ayers, Susan

AU - Doungsong, Kodchawan

AU - Pisavadia, Kalpa

AU - Best, Catherine

AU - Hutton, Una

AU - Alderdice, Fiona

AU - Cheyne, Helen

AU - Edwards, Rhiannon Tudor

PY - 2026/9/10

Y1 - 2026/9/10

N2 - At least one in five women in the United Kingdom (UK) describe their birthing experience as traumatic, while approximately one in 20 women develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth. The 2024 All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Birth Trauma Inquiry highlighted the significant impact of birth trauma on women and families and called for research evidence on the associated public health and wider societal costs of postnatal PTSD. This briefing responds to that need by providing the first estimates of the economic costs associated with PTSD following birth in the UK, including healthcare utilisation and related outcomes for affected women. Our report draws on a survey of women tracked throughout pregnancy and up to two years after birth that assessed mental health and health service use. The survey included assessment of postnatal PTSD, involving childbirth-related PTSD arising as a result of llabour and birthing experience, and PTSD arising from other traumatic experiences, such as assault. This briefing also provides extracts from a separate survey capturingwomen’s personal experiences of birth trauma and its effects on their lives.

AB - At least one in five women in the United Kingdom (UK) describe their birthing experience as traumatic, while approximately one in 20 women develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following childbirth. The 2024 All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) Birth Trauma Inquiry highlighted the significant impact of birth trauma on women and families and called for research evidence on the associated public health and wider societal costs of postnatal PTSD. This briefing responds to that need by providing the first estimates of the economic costs associated with PTSD following birth in the UK, including healthcare utilisation and related outcomes for affected women. Our report draws on a survey of women tracked throughout pregnancy and up to two years after birth that assessed mental health and health service use. The survey included assessment of postnatal PTSD, involving childbirth-related PTSD arising as a result of llabour and birthing experience, and PTSD arising from other traumatic experiences, such as assault. This briefing also provides extracts from a separate survey capturingwomen’s personal experiences of birth trauma and its effects on their lives.

M3 - Commissioned report

BT - Counting the Cost of Birth Trauma: The Economic Impact of Postnatal PTSD in the UK

PB - City, St Georges, University of London

CY - London

ER -

Counting the Cost of Birth Trauma: The Economic Impact of Postnatal PTSD in the UK

Crynodeb

NDC y CU

Mynediad at Ddogfen

Ôl bys

Prosiectau

MAP ALLIANCE (OptiMising cAre for Perinatal Anxiety: evaLuation of heaLth servIce utilisAtioN, outComEs and costs)

Allbwn Ymchwil

Healthcare professionals’ views on barriers, facilitators and optimisation of care for perinatal anxiety: a qualitative investigation

Maternal anxiety and health service use after birth: cohort study

Postpartum post-traumatic stress disorder and health service use: A longitudinal cohort study

Dyfynnu hyn