I run to raise money and raise awareness. 

In December 2016, I gave birth to our beautiful daughter Callie. What should have been an empowering experience became rapidly overshadowed by trauma: postpartum hemorrhage, blood transfusions, anemia, crashes, a week in hospital and a slow, drawn-out recovery period. The extent of professional support following this experience was minimal. It consisted of an informal chat with a midwife one afternoon.

I want support for moms, for partners and for newborns following birth trauma that provides significant, lasting effects. Support that diminishes anxiety, reassures new parents, recognises PTSD, informs them about what is happening. Birth trauma should be discussed in NHS antenatal classes. Regular checkups should be scheduled by the GP in the first few months following the birth. The birth partner should be recognised as also having suffered/witnessed a trauma, not dismissed as an outlier.

I want to be informed, I want to be a person rather than a number, I want a voice: and this should be a standard for everybody affected by birth trauma.

The Leicester Half Marathon takes place on October 15th this year. Callie and I will be running (two legs and three wheels) - come support us!

Xx

Jess

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