This morning I came across an article in The Guardian which mirrored my own concerns and experience of women’s preparedness for birth and the complications which can arise.
In the article, Dr Jocelyn Fitzgerald, Urogynaecologist, set out the harsh realities of giving birth and gave some examples of the most common complications. She advised that around 30% of women will experience incontinence following birth while 25% – 50% of women experience pain during intercourse following birth. She contrasted this with the idealised birth that is sold to women during their pregnancy.
She also highlighted what I believe to be the most important aspect of this conspiracy of silence. It simply means that when women experience these complications, they do not seek help. It often takes women many months of suffering debilitating post birth injuries before they finally seek help. I so often speak to women who are suffering bowel or bladder incontinence following birth who say “this was my first child. I just thought this was normal”.
It seems that Dr Fitzgerald and I agree that were women provided with honest and impartial information during pregnancy, they would be in a much better position to seek support when these issues arise.
so many people are blindsided by the pelvic floor injuries and complications that can happen during and after childbirth.
https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2025/feb/10/urogynecologist-childbirth-interview