Women more likely than men to get health advice from influencers, study finds
Thousands of UK women develop undiagnosed PTSD after childbirth each year, with at least 15,000 cases going undetected, researchers say.
The true number could be double that or more, according to an evidence review of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
PTSD can involve symptoms including nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety and persistent negative thoughts. Research estimates suggest between 5 and 5.9 per cent of women giving birth develop the condition.
Doctors at the University of East Anglia’s medical school reviewed existing data on births, PTSD prevalence and six-week postnatal GP appointments to estimate how many cases are going undiagnosed.
They said many GPs mistake childbirth-related PTSD for postnatal depression, potentially resulting in women receiving treatment that is not appropriate for PTSD.
Research has estimated that fewer than half of women with postnatal PTSD symptoms are diagnosed and receive NHS care.
Lead author Dr Megan Foreman, who is also a GP, said: “The Office for National Statistics figure for the 2025 live birthrate in England and Wales, not including Scotland and Northern Ireland, was 585,396.
“This figure does not include stillbirths and miscarriages, which are significant risk factors for childbirth-related PTSD.
“Therefore, at 5 per cent of the 2025 ONS birthrate for England and Wales (29,269), combined with the evidence from Moran et al that less than 50 per cent of women with PTSD symptoms postnatally are referred for specialist perinatal mental health support, a UK figure greater than 15,000 women, but potentially in the tens of thousands, would be justifiable based on the available evidence.”
The researchers said cases are being missed during the NHS six-week postnatal check, which assesses the health of both the mother and baby.
There is no approved framework for assessing a woman’s risk of childbirth-related PTSD during these appointments, they said.
Assessing a newborn’s health can also make it harder to focus on the mother’s mental health, particularly if she attends the appointment alone with her baby.
The researchers also noted that some women may not feel able to discuss a traumatic birth soon afterwards because doing so could retrigger the experience.
The review cited UK research in which half of GPs recognised trauma-related features in case examples of childbirth-related PTSD, but postnatal depression remained their most common diagnosis.
The authors said misdiagnosis could be detrimental because women may be prescribed antidepressants, which are not as effective for treating PTSD as psychological therapy.
Treating depression alone may also fail to improve coexisting childbirth-related PTSD.
Identifying the condition is particularly important because both PTSD and postnatal depression are associated with an increased risk of suicide, the most common cause of death among women in the year after giving birth, the authors said.
The review also said untreated childbirth-related PTSD can affect women and their families, contribute to further healthcare needs, lead to avoidance of doctors and hospitals and influence decisions around future pregnancies.
Angela McConville, chief executive of parenting charity NCT, said: “The possibility that so many women could be living with undiagnosed PTSD after birth is deeply concerning.
“PTSD after birth is a serious and often overlooked condition that can have a profound impact on women and new mothers, as well as those around them.
“No one should have to reach crisis point before they are listened to and able to access support.
“These findings are a powerful reminder that birth trauma does not end when care in hospital ends.
“When trauma goes unrecognised or unsupported, the effects can be felt across relationships, family life and wellbeing for months or even years.”
