Prøve GULL - Gratis
Risk of serious injuries in childbirth on the rise
The Guardian
|October 17, 2025
Women in England are at growing risk of suffering a serious injury while giving birth, NHS figures reveal.
The number of mothers sustaining a thirdor fourth-degree perineal tear while delivering their baby has risen from 25 per 1,000 in June 2020 to 29 per 1,000 in June this year - a 16% increase.
Such injuries can have a “life-changing” impact on women’s physical and mental health, cause post-traumatic stress disorder and leave them afraid to have another child. Childbirth experts linked the rise in the most serious tears to poor NHS care, understaffing in NHS maternity units, and mothers getting older and larger.
Women are also being put in danger because hospitals do not always properly establish their risk of suffering a tear using an assessment method recommended by obstetricians, midwives and MPs.
Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat health spokesperson, who obtained the NHS England figures from the House of Commons library, said: "Behind these figures are heartbreaking stories of women suffering unimaginable trauma at a moment that should be full of joy.
Denne historien er fra October 17, 2025-utgaven av The Guardian.
Abonner på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av kuraterte premiumhistorier og over 9000 magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FLERE HISTORIER FRA The Guardian
The Guardian
A bloody nose for the president but Democrats must be careful not to misinterpret the results
The US gave Donald Trump a bloody nose.
3 mins
November 06, 2025
The Guardian
Man gropes Mexican president during walkabout
Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of Mexico, has been groped by a man while mingling with citizens in Mexico City, raising questions about security and the sexual harassment faced by the country's women.
1 mins
November 06, 2025
The Guardian
Ed Sheeran backs music reforms for state schools
Ed Sheeran has taken partial credit for an overhaul of musiceducation in England's state schools, shortly after being namechecked by the education secretary in parliament.
1 min
November 06, 2025
The Guardian
Reputation nosedives as bird of the year enters nesting season
New Zealanders are being warned to steer clear of the nation's “bird of the year” - the karearea - after reports they are dive-bombing walkers who get too close to their nests.
1 mins
November 06, 2025
The Guardian
McIlroy thanks PGA chief for Ryder Cup abuse apology
Rory McIlroy says the PGA of America chief executive, Derek Sprague, apologised personally for the abuse directed at the world No 2 and his wife during Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph at Bethpage Black, and that the gesture helped to close the book on what had been a bruising week.
1 mins
November 06, 2025
The Guardian
Three in 10 adults experienced abuse in childhood, study finds
Nearly a third of women in England and Wales were abused as a child, along with just over a quarter of men, according to new figures that for the first time include emotional, physical or sexual abuse as well as neglect.
2 mins
November 06, 2025
The Guardian
Father of Southport killer is 'desperately sorry' for not dealing with son's behaviour
The father of Axel Rudakubana has told the inquiry into the 2024 Southport attack that his failure to deal with his son's violent behaviour had \"catastrophic consequences, for which I am desperately sorry\".
3 mins
November 06, 2025
The Guardian
BBC is 'a Titanic' and must embrace radical shift, says Sidemen manager
The BBC risks becoming the Titanic of the media world and culturally irrelevant to gen Z unless it embraces a “radical shift” towards reaching young audiences, the manager of one of the most successful YouTube collectives has warned.
2 mins
November 06, 2025
The Guardian
Louvre heist suspect 'is minor social media star'
One of the men arrested on suspicion of stealing £77m of crown jewels from the Louvre is a minor social media star with a passion for motorbikes who has worked as a security guard at the Pompidou Centre, French media have reported.
1 mins
November 06, 2025
The Guardian
Fiji carry national pride into redemption match
England's opponents on Saturday are rising in the world rankings and out to avenge defeat at World Cup
2 mins
November 06, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size