When birth becomes a battle: Traumatic births in military families

Birth is often imagined as a joyful beginning, yet for many parents connected to the Armed Forces, it can feel more like another battlefield, marked by fear, loss of control, and long-lasting psychological wounds.

Despite modern healthcare, too many families experience trauma during or after childbirth, and in military communities the risks and barriers to support are even greater.

What is traumatic birth and why does it matter?

A traumatic birth isn’t limited to medical emergencies. It can include emergency interventions like caesarean sections, a baby needing intensive care, or devastating loss like stillbirth. Trauma can also occur when a parent feels unheard, mistreated or powerless, even if the baby and parent appear physically healthy afterwards.

Research suggests the problem is far from rare. Globally, studies estimate:

• About 1 in 3 mothers report their birth as traumatic.
• About 5-20% of women who give birth report clinically significant birth-related PTSD symptoms.
• More than 1 in 10 military-connected women are estimated to experience a mental health illness during the perinatal period.

These figures make birth trauma one of the leading causes of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), second only to sexual abuse in some studies.

Why military families are particularly vulnerable

While birth trauma can affect parents anywhere, military families often face unique challenges that amplify the impact.

Geographical instability

Frequent relocations are a defining feature of military life. Families may move every few years, often with little notice, disrupting continuity of prenatal and postnatal care.

Each new posting can mean starting over with unfamiliar healthcare providers, hospitals, and support services. This disruption can prevent consistent monitoring of pregnancy complications, interfere with birth planning, and reduce access to postpartum support, all of which can increase the risk of birth trauma and complicate recovery.

Separation from support networks

Being part of the Armed Forces often means the needs of the service come first, as reflected in the British Army’s value of selfless commitment: “Mates and mission first, me second.”

This reality can be particularly difficult for expectant or new parents. Military spouses of pregnant women can be deployed or sent for extended training with little notice, sometimes just before the due date or during the vulnerable postpartum period. The mobile demands of military service often require personnel to live at a considerable distance from family or familiar support networks.

For the birthing parent, this can mean recovering from labour, coping with sleepless nights, and managing the emotional and physical demands of a newborn alone. These circumstances can increase feelings of stress, anxiety and isolation, which are closely linked to poorer maternal mental health outcomes.

Military culture and the resilient mindset

In a culture that prizes resilience, asking for help can feel like weakness. Displays of strength and self-reliance are rewarded on duty, but at home and in healthcare settings, these same qualities can discourage service personnel from reaching out and getting the care they need.

This is significant because research shows supportive healthcare professionals and a nurturing environment can help protect parents from the lasting emotional effects of complicated births, reducing the risks of postnatal trauma and aiding recovery.

The issue: support and access, not just awareness

Even when birth trauma is recognised, military parents may hesitate to seek mental health care due to fears of stigma or career repercussions. They may worry that disclosing emotional or psychological struggles could affect promotions, deployment opportunities, or perceptions of their professional competence.

Additionally, many may be unaware of the range of support services available, including confidential counselling, peer networks, or family welfare programmes, making it difficult for them to access help when it is needed most.

A further concern is the equity gap in maternity and postpartum care. Women serving in the Armed Forces and military spouses often face unequal access to high-quality, trauma-informed maternity care compared with civilian families.

Where someone gives birth, on base or off, abroad or at home, should not determine whether they receive compassionate care and ongoing mental health support.

What needs to change?

Military families facing birth trauma deserve better care and guidance, and the Ministry of Defence has a role to play in making that happen:

• Education and awareness: Normalise conversations about traumatic birth and its lasting impact on mental health within military communities, so parents feel empowered to seek support early and continuously. Promote peer networks where parents can share experiences without fear of judgment.
• Provider training: Ensure military healthcare staff receive regular trauma-informed training to provide compassionate care and guidance during pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period.
• Standardised care: Ensure families have the same access to counselling, bereavement support, and specialist care regardless of where they are stationed.
• Access without stigma: Provide clear guidance to service personnel and spouses on what resources are available and reassure them that seeking help will not affect career progression.
• Research and data collection: Invest in ongoing research to understand birth trauma in military communities better and identify effective, data-driven interventions.

Birth trauma is a real and pressing issue. The statistics are clear and the stories are heartbreaking, but solutions exist.

With more knowledge, more training and equal access to care, military parents can get the support they need to heal.