Breaking the Taboo Why we need to talk about birth trauma
By Theo Clarke
In an emotional debate in the House of Commons in October 2023, then MP Theo Clarke broke down in tears as she described being rushed into emergency surgery after the birth of her daughter, terrified she was going to die. Amazed at the public response, she quickly realised that although birth trauma is a huge issue, there is still a real taboo around speaking about it. In the UK alone, it’s estimated that up to 30,000 women a year suffer bad experiences during the delivery of their babies, with one in twenty developing post-traumatic stress disorder as a result. Despite this, substandard maternity and postnatal care is too often tolerated as normal.
In Breaking the Taboo, as well as telling her own story, Theo presents the experiences of mothers and fathers from different backgrounds that show the undiscussed realities of birth trauma. She also shines a light on what it is like to combine motherhood with a career as an MP, revealing the shocking way new mothers are treated by our political system – something that has serious implications for our democracy.
A gripping memoir of a new mother’s experience combined with a powerful call to arms for change, this urgent book will start a conversation that is as essential as it is overdue.
Reviews
“Breaking the Taboo is a powerful personal account of being a new mother experiencing birth trauma. Theo charts our work together in Parliament to break the silence surrounding the subject and correctly identifies the serious need for a #MeToo movement around birth trauma. Her moving and candid book will help to spark much-needed change.”
Rosie Duffield MP, co-chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Birth Trauma
“Breaking the Taboo is a book that truly touched my heart. Theo Clarke brings a much-needed voice to the experience of birth trauma and, in doing so, offers a sense of comfort and understanding that many of us are missing. If you’ve carried the weight of a difficult birth, this book will help you feel seen and heard.”
Louise Thompson, broadcaster and author of Lucky: Learning to Live Again
“A painfully honest, important testimony to traumatic birth – vital reading for both parents and policy makers.”
Rory Stewart, former government minister and co-host of The Rest is Politics
“This book does not stand alone. It is one part of the positive action taken by a courageous campaigner and mother, together with the huge number of women she has created a platform for. They have all been able to tell their stories and telling those stories will lead to change. This book should be widely read, especially by those who can help make that change.”
Penny Mordaunt, former Leader of the House of Commons
“Equal parts shocking and poignant, this captivating book outlines the bold reforms so urgently needed in healthcare services and shines a light on women’s real-life stories and experiences of traumatic birth. Vividly written and packed with deeply moving accounts of the impact of birth trauma, Breaking the Taboo is a vital insight into the scandal that is the postcode lottery of this country’s maternity provision. Put a copy on the desk of every MP.”
Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the Labour Party 2007–2015
“I wish Theo hadn’t had to write this book, but I’m so glad she did. We need to move the needle on maternity and post-partum care, and it starts with vital stories like this one.”
Stacey Halls, novelist and bestselling author of The Familiars
“Breaking the Taboo is a brave, personal and at times brutal account of how Theo’s own experience of birth trauma led to her groundbreaking campaign to protect new mums. It also offers a fascinating glimpse into the reality of pregnancy and early motherhood as a politician during one of the most turbulent periods in recent British history.”
Justine Roberts, CEO and founder of Mumsnet
“Breaking the Taboo is a jaw-dropping insight into the postcode lottery of maternity care in the UK. Theo’s account of what it is like to be a new mother and an MP at the same time left me reeling – as did the descriptions of the birth trauma suffered by her and the other mothers who have so bravely shared their stories. Inspiring and powerful, this is a must-read.”
Dame Andrea Leadsom, former Business Secretary
“As a clinician committed to supporting women who have been affected by birth trauma, I pay tribute to Theo and all the women who have shared their stories for this powerful new book. It’s essential that we break the silence around birth trauma so we can learn from these experiences and do everything possible to ensure that every woman receives the high-quality care she deserves.”
Ranee Thakar, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
“Breaking the Taboo is a gripping, courageous and urgent account of the extraordinary experience of becoming a mother while serving as an MP and a damning indictment of how we treat new mothers. Theo has started the much-needed #MeToo movement for inadequate maternity care. Essential reading for all about how life can begin in a maternity system that we as a society should be ashamed of.”
Lucy Jones, author of Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood
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- Hardback, 384 pages
- ISBN: 9781785909351
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13 May 2025
Available to pre-order - £20.00
- eBook
- ISBN: 9781837360130
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13 May 2025
Available to pre-order - £14.99