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Australasian Birth Trauma Association

The Australasian Birth Trauma Association (ABTA) is Australia's peak charity dedicated to helping prevent, diagnose and treat birth-related trauma. We are a peer-led organisation working with Australian women, birthing people, families and health professionals who are impacted by birth-related trauma.

In carrying out ABTA’s goals, they aim to:

  • reduce preventable birth-related trauma;
  • de-stigmatise the experience of birth-related trauma;
  • raise awareness of physical and psychological birth-related trauma, and
  • connect individuals with the support they need to heal.

Vision and mission

The ABTA’s philosophy is to encourage a collaborative, multidisciplinary and individualised approach to pregnancy, birth and postpartum care that recognises each woman’s or parent's life experiences, values, wants, needs and physical health requirements.

How Australasian Birth Trauma Association (ABTA) can help

If you are an expectant parent seeking support and information about antenatal education, ABTA provides information and resources aimed at supporting your decision-making for your birth experience. They believe that individual care, is about your body, your voice and your choice. You can find out more by visiting ThinkNatal Education.

If you may have experienced birth-related trauma and you are seeking support, ABTA provides trusted peer-led support services, resources and information for anyone affected by birth-related trauma, Including women, birthing people, non-birthing parents, their support people and individuals witnessing traumatic births in their workplaces. You can find out about their support programs here.

If you are a professional working with parents in the perinatal period, we encourage you to visit ABTA’s health professional birth-related trauma resource hub. From patient and consumer resources and services to research, education, and training, their health professional hub is here to support you in giving the best care to you and your patients and their families. Visit the hub here.

Recommended links

This information was originally published on healthdirect - Australasian Birth Trauma Association.

Last reviewed: April 2024

Information from this partner

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Early Postnatal - Birth Trauma

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Family & Friends - Birth Trauma

If you are reading this then you may have someone close to you that has been impacted by a difficult birth experience, be it a partner, loved one or someone

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Information for Parents (to be) - Birth Trauma

First we want you to know that we are with you and we are here for you. You are not alone.Times are challenging, staying at home, working from home, home

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Postpartum Trauma Disorders (e.g. PTSD) - Birth Trauma

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of a group of trauma and stressor-related disorders. People often associate these with war veterans, police

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What is Birth Trauma? - Birth Trauma

The delivery of a baby is a positive event for many women, but for some it can be a mixed experience or even very negative, resulting in physical and/or

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Pelvic Floor Muscle Damage - Birth Trauma

The pelvic floor muscles are a supportive basin of muscle attached to the pelvic bones by connective tissue to support the vagina, uterus, bladder and bowel.

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Caesarean Section - Birth Trauma

Being abdominal surgery, pain in the early months is very common after a caesarean section (C-section) and needs to be managed with rest, pain relief, and

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