Mothers Matter
Peer-to-peer support to help women navigate pregnancy, birth and motherhood
What is Mothers Matter?
Mothers Matter is a FREE, confidential peer support service to assist women as they navigate the full scope of conception, pregnancy, birth and early motherhood through online or over the phone contact. This support is provided by our volunteer team of experienced maternity services advocates who are also mothers and therefore have a deep understanding of the highs and lows of early motherhood IMPORTANT: Mothers Matter advocates do NOT provide medical advice.
Why is Mothers Matter so necessary?
It is estimated almost 4 in 10 women experience a traumatic birth. A recent study suggests these estimates could be closer to 6 in 10 women. It is also estimated 1 in 10 women develop PTSD. One in 3 teens giving birth experiences a traumatic birth, and 50% of these women display symptoms suggestive of acute trauma during the immediate postpartum period. Researchers also suspect that many women have experienced birth trauma but are not aware of it due to a range of factors, such as social and cultural contexts and a lack of awareness. With 300,000+ Australian women giving birth annually, this amounts to 100,000 traumatised women urgently needing support every year. The aim of providing this support is to reduce both physical and emotional birth trauma; improve overall wellbeing and mental health; and help create positive health engagement and outcomes.
How does Mothers Matter work?
Complete an online intake form (see below) to describe your situation and what you would like support with. Your request will be allocated to one of our dedicated volunteer case workers, all of whom are other mums and experienced maternity services advocates. Your case worker will then make contact with you via email or phone. You will then either be assisted directly or referred to a qualified professional.
What sort of issues do women bring to a Mothers Matter consult?
The issues that women are confronted with in pregnancy and early motherhood are as varied as they are challenging, but they include:
* lack of support for their birth choices from their maternity care provider
* confusion about their rights in pregnancy and birth
* seeking clarity about their available maternity care options
* seeking referrals for professional perinatal support (e.g. breastfeeding/sleep/settling support)
* seeking assistance with making a complaint to their health service
* initial debriefing after birth (with referral to appropriate professional if required)
Who is eligible to receive help through Mothers Matter?
Support from Mothers Matter is available to all women in the perinatal period (from pregnancy to postpartum) in Australia.
What is birth trauma?
Experiencing birth trauma can have potentially lifelong effects on both mental and physical health. It can also impact a woman’s relationship with her baby, her partner and her family, as well as her breastfeeding success and future fertility. A ‘traumatic birth’ is a complex concept that is used to describe a series of related experiences of childbirth that result in a negative psychological response. Physical trauma in the form of injury to the baby or mother may be involved but is not a necessary condition. Birth trauma is not just associated with the actual birth but with how women are treated and supported leading up to, during and the immediate time after birth as well. Birth trauma isn’t linear, and the effects may not present immediately after birth – it can take some time for birth trauma to present. Birth trauma is strongly influenced and/or indicated by: - Lack of woman-centred care - Lack of informed consent - Interventions - Physical trauma to mother and/or baby - Birth complications (whether preventable or not) - Not being heard or listened to - Poor bedside manner - Feeling unsupported - Lack of education and understanding of the birth and/or the healthcare system.
How does Mothers Matter improve outcomes for mothers and babies?
Mothers Matter aims to meet the current gaps in maternity care by providing early peer and social support as recognised in numerous First 1000 Days Strategies adopted across Australia. These strategies have been developed to reduce initial perinatal anxiety, birth trauma and post-natal depression and improve the overall emotional well-being of women and children. Mothers Matter brings the community back to the core of pregnancy, motherhood and parenting through providing online and over the phone support and referrals to appropriate specialist services. These can include domestic violence support; mental health support; as well as culturally appropriate community organisations and programs Ultimately we seek to provide in-community services to help women obtain care suitable to their needs. This may include services such as: -Community midwifery -Breastfeeding support (lactation counsellor/IBCLC) -Women’s psychologist -Women’s health physiotherapist -Childcare for women to attend peer-to-peer sessions and other services provided at the community centre -Culturally appropriate services and workshops for women -Pregnancy education and workshops -Parenting education and workshops.
-- IMPORTANT NOTE --
Mothers Matter does NOT provide medical advice. However, we can offer referrals if required.