The Birth Trauma Association (BTA) was established
in 2004 to support women suffering from Post Natal Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder (PTSD) or birth trauma. We are not trained counsellors or
therapists or medical professionals. We are mothers who wish to support
other women who have suffered difficult births and we aim to offer
advice and support to all women who are finding it hard to cope with
their childbirth experience.
The BTA is the only organisation in the UK which deals solely and
specifically with this issue. We aim to tackle the problem with work
which is focused on three main areas:
(1) Raising awareness of birth trauma
(2) Working to prevent it
(3) Supporting families in need
We have four leading experts on
our Board, a Board of Trustees and an Executive Committee of committed
activists. In addition, we have many active professional and lay volunteers
whose skills range from administration to obstetric and psychological
expertise.
The BTA believes that too little is known about the psychology of
childbirth and this means that the mental health consequences of it
are all too often and, all too easily, ignored. We also believe that,
on occasion, the emotional needs of women are sidelined or forgotten.
We are very keen to have the support of health care professionals for
our work so that we can campaign effectively to change any current
practices that contribute to traumatic birth experiences. If you are
a health care professional and you would like more information about
birth trauma or you would like to help raise awareness of this issue
then please contact
us.
Executive Commitee
The Executive Committee runs the BTA. It is made up of a core group
of committed activists whose duties stretch from support to press and
publicity. Without this hard-working body of individuals, supported
by our many wonderful volunteers, the BTA would not be able to continue
its work. If you would like to become active at this level, please contact
us.
- Debbie Sayers
Debbie was a co-founder of the BTA. She is a qualified
Solicitor and PhD student with a particular expertise in human
rights law. She has worked on issues of prevention, hospital
training, support, website and newsletter development. She has
also written many of the BTA publications.
Our current committee includes:
- Julie
Orford - CHAIR
Julie Orford is a part-time website co-ordinator for local government
and a freelance graphic designer. She has a background in commercial
web design and project management. She had a traumatic birth in August
2004 with her son and joined the BTA as a volunteer shortly after that.
Jules is Chair of the BTA and also has responsibility for the BTA website
and publications.
- Maureen
Treadwell
Maureen Treadwell is a co-founder of the BTA. She previously worked
as a lecturer setting up her own company. Maureen is currently working
on the Intrapartum Care Guideline Development Group of the National
Institute for Clinical Excellence. Maureen is co-founder of the BTA.
She also runs the media team.
- Emma
Cuppini
Emma has been working with the BTA since summer 2004. She suffered
PN PTSD after the traumatic birth of her daughter in 1994. Emma is
working with Maternity Services at the East Sussex Hospitals NHS
Trust, with the aim of improving services for women and preventing
traumatic birth experiences. She is also one of the BTA’s press
team.
- Nilmini
de Silva
Nilmini currently works for a financial company and has a background
in political work including working for a Member of Parliament
and for a charity. She suffered a traumatic birth in 1993. Nilmini
is responsible for the political awareness and Government relations
work of the BTA.
- Anna
Davidson
Anna Davidson is a mother-of-two and lives in Essex. She suffered a
traumatic birth with her first child in 2003 which led to her becoming
involved with the BTA from the time it was launched. An NCTJ-trained
journalist and part-time reporter, Anna is one of the BTA's press team.
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Trustees
Our trustees are responsible for ensuring the organisation
is properly and effectively run. You can find out more about the role
of a Trustee from the Charity
Commision website.
- Paul Alway
Paul is a design engineer/project manager for a large
refrigeration contractor and is also a part-time session drummer.
Paul agreed to become a BTA trustee after witnessing traumatic
events in the delivery room in 2004 at the birth of his son.
He wishes to ensure that the good work of the BTA continues
to go from strength to strength and helps as many people as
possible.
- Helen Cole
Currently working
as a freelance harpist in the
UK, Helen has played with many
orchestras including the London
Philharmonic, London Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of Europe,
BBC Scottish, City of Birmingham Symphony, Academy of St
Martins-in-the-Fields, London
Mozart Players, Philharmonia,
Orchestra National de Lyon,
City of London Sinfonia and
was principal Harp with Northern
Ballet Theatre for a number of years.
After reading music at Clare College, Cambridge, Helen became
a scholar at the Royal College of Music. She was awarded
funding by the Countess of Munster Fund and the Martin Musical
Scholarship Fund. As a chamber musician she is active with
the multi instrument group CHROMA, the trio Helianthus and
the duo Entr'acte, as well as guesting regularly with the
Contemporary Consort. She also as an active teaching practice
which includes the position of harp teacher at the Centre
for Young Musicians at Morley College. In her spare time
she enjoys coxing on the River Thames.
Helen's interest in childbirth related issues began when a close friend
had a traumatic birth. Helen supported her through this and was her birth
partner for her subsequent child.
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Board of Experts
Our Executive Board includes leading figures in both research and
practice relating to birth trauma. We are able to turn to them for
professional advice and information on recent developments and we are
indebted to them for their invaluable voluntary contributions. Our
Board Members are:
- Helen Allott
Helen is a consultant obstetrician with a special interest in helping women
who have suffered from a traumatic birth experience. She runs a Post Delivery
Counselling clinic at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.
- Dr Susan Ayers
Susan is a Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology at the University of
Sussex. Her main interest is the development of post-traumatic stress
disorder after health events, particularly childbirth. She has undertaken
qualitative and quantitative studies of traumatic birth and published
widely on the topic.
- Judy Crompton
Judy Crompton is a trained midwife and trauma therapist, specialising
in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
- Sandra Gidley MP, LibDem Spokesperson for Women’s
Issues
Sandra originally qualified as a pharmacist and it was her interest in the
Health Service that originally led her to become active in politics. Sandra
has been an antenatal teacher and is actively involved with her local constituency
hospital. Her parliamentary work includes being co-chair of the All Party
Parliamentary Group on Mental Health.
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