What the NSW Birth Trauma Inquiry Means for You (and Why Continuity of Care Matters)

If you've had a birth that left you feeling shaken, dismissed, or like things happened to you rather than with you — you're not being dramatic, and you're not alone.

In 2024, the NSW Parliament ran a landmark inquiry into birth trauma. It received over 4,000 submissions from women, midwives, obstetricians and advocates, and its findings were clear: too many people are experiencing birth trauma that was genuinely preventable. I wanted to write about it because understanding what came out of that inquiry can actually help you advocate for yourself, whichever hospital or care model you choose.

What the inquiry found

The Committee's report, handed down in May 2024, found that a ‘one size fits all’ approach to maternity care isn't good enough — care needs to be tailored to the individual, not just the system's convenience. It made 43 recommendations, and the NSW Government has since adopted all of them, alongside a formal apology from the Health Minister to the women affected.

Three things came up again and again in the findings: continuity of care with a known provider, proper informed consent, and comprehensive antenatal education. None of that is complicated. It's really just: know your care provider, understand your choices, and go in properly prepared.

Why continuity of care keeps coming up

Continuity of care means seeing the same care provider — or a small, consistent team — throughout your pregnancy, birth and postpartum, rather than a rotating cast of strangers meeting you for the first time in labour. It sounds simple, but it makes a genuine difference: it's consistently linked to fewer interventions and to women feeling more in control and less traumatised by the experience.

The catch is that continuity of care through the public system isn't guaranteed everywhere, and demand for models like Midwifery Group Practice often outstrips what's available. This is exactly the gap a doula is designed to fill — regardless of who's delivering your baby, you've got one consistent person who's been with you since your first appointment and is still with you afterwards.

What informed consent actually means for you

The inquiry also flagged that informed consent in maternity care needs work — meaning you should always understand what's being proposed, why, what the alternatives are, and that you're allowed to ask questions or say no. If a recommendation is being made and you don't understand why, it's always okay to ask. That's not being difficult. That's your right.

How this shows up in how I work

I'm not a substitute for your midwife or obstetrician, and I'm not there to override anyone's clinical advice. But I am there to help you understand your options, ask the right questions, and feel confident enough to speak up if something doesn't sit right with you — before, during and after your birth. That's the whole idea behind continuity of care, and it's a big part of why doulas exist.

If a past birth is sitting heavily on you

Reading any of this brings up feelings about a birth you've already had, that's a really normal response, and it doesn't mean anything is wrong with you. If you'd like to talk it through — whether you're preparing for another birth or just processing the last one — I'm always happy to have that conversation. And if you'd like more support than a chat with me can offer, the Gidget Foundation and PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) are two excellent, free places to start.

Your questions, answered.

Does this mean birth trauma is common?

It's more common than people often realise, and importantly, this inquiry confirmed a lot of it is preventable. That's actually the hopeful part.

Do I need a doula to get continuity of care?

Not necessarily. Some public system models offer it too, like Midwifery Group Practice, but demand is high. A doula is one of the most reliable ways to guarantee it for yourself, whichever model of care you're in.

Is this only relevant if something's already gone wrong?

Not at all. Most of this is actually about prevention: going in informed, supported, and with a team who knows you, so you're set up for the best possible experience from the start.

If you'd like to chat about how continuity of care could look for your birth, I'm always here. No pressure, no jargon — just someone in your corner