Postnatal PTSD claims

A traumatic birth can leave lasting psychological harm, which is often just as serious as any physical injury.. Our specialist team is here to listen and help you through postnatal PTSD claims.

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Author

Sahida Patel

Partner, Birth Injury Team Lead

Reviewer

Trevor Ward

Partner Solicitor, Head of Birth Injury Unit

Last Updated

16th July 2026

Can I make a postnatal PTSD claim?

You may be able to make a postnatal PTSD claim if your condition was caused or worsened by medical negligence during your pregnancy, delivery, or postnatal care. Postnatal PTSD is a serious psychological condition, and while there may not have been physical harm to you or your baby, the psychological harm can be just as valid.

Negligence that may support a postnatal PTSD claim includes: failure to gain informed consent; a lack of adequate pain relief or dismissal of your birth preferences; poor communication during complications or emergencies; delays in treatment that caused significant distress to you or your baby; being left alone or unsupported during a difficult birth; dismissive or insensitive treatment by doctors or midwives

Even if you’re unsure whether your circumstance counts as negligence, it’s worth obtaining legal advice. Our solicitors will listen to your experience without judgment and provide clear, honest guidance on whether you may have grounds for a claim.

Most claims have a cut-off point, which is three years from the date of the incident, but there are exceptions. For example, if the claim involves a child, they have until their 21st birthday to make a claim. We’ll help you understand time limits for your case from the very first conversation.

Example of a postnatal PTSD claim

During a complicated labour, a mother is not told what procedures are being carried out or why, including the use of forceps, and receives no adequate pain relief despite repeated requests. She later develops severe PTSD, including flashbacks, an inability to bond with her baby, and a fear of future pregnancies. If the clinical team failed to obtain her informed consent and ignored her requests for support during her birth, this could form the basis of a valid postnatal PTSD compensation claim.

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Securing interim payments to ensure early access to support

What compensation can help with

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Getting the support you need to recover and rebuild your life.

Postnatal PTSD compensation is not simply about processing and acknowledging what happened. It’s about making sure you have the financial means to access the right treatment, take the time you need to recover, and manage the practical pressures that can follow a traumatic birth.

The amount of compensation you may receive will depend on the severity of your condition, your prognosis, and the impact PTSD has had on your life, including your ability to work, your relationships, and your ability to care for your baby. No two cases are the same, and we’ll make sure any settlement reflects your individual circumstances.

Successful postnatal PTSD claims may help fund:

Psychological therapy, including CBT and EMDR
Private counselling and ongoing mental health support
Loss of earnings, both current and future
Care and support needs at home
Costs of additional childcare while you recover
Travel costs related to treatment and appointments
Any other out-of-pocket expenses arising from your condition

Understanding the potential value

We secured £25,000 for a client whose high-risk pregnancy ended in trauma affecting her mental health, physical wellbeing, and family life. We also secured £3,800 for a client who suffered a traumatic birth and substandard postpartum care, and £600,000 following negligent postnatal care that had a significant impact on our client’s ability to work. The value of a postnatal PTSD claim depends on the severity of your psychological condition, how long it’s expected to last, and the wider impact on your life. Settlements can vary significantly.

Understanding interim payments

In more serious cases, it may be possible to secure interim payments before your claim is finalised. These payments can be made during the claims process and help cover immediate costs such as private therapy or lost income. You don’t have to wait until the end of your case to get the support you need; our team will always explore whether interim payments are an option for you.

Specialist postnatal PTSD solicitors

Our birth injury team has decades of experience in complex psychological harm cases, including postnatal PTSD claims.

Why choose Fletchers for your postnatal PTSD claim?

Postnatal PTSD claims involve both legal complexity and profound personal sensitivity. The team around you really matters. At Fletchers, our solicitors specialise in birth injury and clinical negligence, including cases where psychological harm is at the heart of the claim. We combine legal expertise with genuine care, so every person we support has the best possible chance of a successful outcome.

Expertise you can rely on

Specialist birth injury and postnatal PTSD solicitors, with decades of combined experience
Supported hundreds of women and families through complex birth trauma and birth injury cases
Deep specialist knowledge of NHS guidelines, clinical protocols, and informed consent requirements
Proven track record of settlements ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of pounds
Sensitive, client-led approach from the first conversation
Rated excellent on Trustpilot by the clients we’ve supported
‘No Win, No Fee’, so a claim can be pursued without financial risk

You're not alone

We understand what you're going through.

Living with postnatal PTSD affects every part of your life. Beyond the distress of reliving a traumatic birth, many women find that it affects their ability to bond with their baby, their relationships, their confidence, and their ability to return to work.

Flashbacks, hypervigilance, emotional numbness, and fear of future pregnancies are not small things. They are serious, life-altering consequences that deserve to be taken seriously.

Many mothers feel isolated after a traumatic birth, particularly if their baby is healthy, and worry that their experience won’t be believed or taken seriously. Research suggests that 4 to 6% of women develop PTSD after birth, equating to around 30,000 women each year in the UK.

We have supported many clients in exactly this position: women who weren’t sure they had a claim, exhausted and anxious about the future, and who simply needed someone to listen and take on the hard work on their behalf. Sharing your story can feel daunting, and we take that seriously. Our team approaches every case with sensitivity and without judgment.

We’ll handle every part of the process, keep you informed at every stage, and work to secure compensation that truly reflects the impact of what happened to you. We also understand that for many clients, the answers and recognition that a claim can bring matter just as much as the financial outcome.

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FAQs about postnatal PTSD claims

What is postnatal PTSD?

Postnatal PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental health condition triggered by a traumatic birth experience. Unlike the ‘baby blues’ or postnatal depression, PTSD is caused by the shock or distress of childbirth itself. It can affect mothers and sometimes partners, even if the baby is born healthy.

Common symptoms include:

Flashbacks or nightmares about the birth
Avoidance of hospitals, medical appointments, or conversations about birth
Hypervigilance and heightened anxiety
Emotional numbness, shame, or persistent guilt
Difficulty bonding with the baby
Fear of future pregnancies or childbirth (tokophobia)

If your postnatal PTSD was linked to how your care was handled during or after delivery, you may be able to make a claim.

How common is postnatal PTSD?

Research suggests that 4 to 6% of women develop PTSD after birth, equating to approximately 30,000 women each year in the UK. According to NICE, around 15 to 20% of women experience postnatal depression and anxiety in the first year after birth.

If you’ve experienced postnatal PTSD, you are not alone. There are dedicated groups and organisations that can help provide emotional support alongside any legal claim you pursue.

Who is most at risk of postnatal PTSD?

Certain women are more at risk of developing postnatal PTSD. Key risk factors identified in research include:

Preterm birth, stillbirth, or severe complications
A negative or traumatic birth experience
Emergency caesarean or instrumental delivery (such as forceps or Ventouse)
Lack of control or poor communication during labour
Psychological dissociation during the birth
Inadequate support during labour or the postnatal period

If any of these factors apply to you, and you believe your care fell short of what it should have been, it’s worth speaking to our team.

What should I do if I think I've suffered postnatal PTSD due to negligent care?

There are a few practical steps you can take if you think negligent care led to postnatal PTSD. You can request a birth debrief from the hospital to help you understand what happened during your care, and you can also speak to your GP or health visitor about your mental health to get the support you need.

When you’re ready, contact our birth injury team for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll listen to your story and give you clear, honest advice on whether you have grounds for a legal claim, with no pressure to proceed.

Is there a time limit for postnatal PTSD claims?

Yes. In most cases, you have three years from the date of the incident to make a postnatal PTSD claim. If you’re unsure whether the time limit applies to your situation, give us a call, and we’ll advise you of your options.

If you are making a claim on behalf of a child who has suffered postnatal PTSD, the time limits are different. For children, the three-year time limit begins on their 18th birthday, meaning a claim can be made until the child turns 21.

What does postnatal PTSD treatment look like?

The main treatment for postnatal PTSD is talking therapy. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) are commonly recommended. Medication is not usually prescribed specifically for postnatal PTSD, but it may help manage associated symptoms such as anxiety or depression.

Compensation secured through a claim can help fund access to these therapies, including private treatment where NHS waiting times are a barrier to recovery.

How does the postnatal PTSD claims process work?

The process begins with a free, no-obligation conversation with our team. We’ll listen to your experience and advise you honestly on whether you have a claim.

If we take on your case, we’ll review your medical records and gather the evidence needed to support your claim. This includes witness statements and, where appropriate, independent expert reports. Most cases settle outside of court, but if a trial is required, we will represent you fully throughout.

Once we’ve negotiated with the other side, your claim will be settled, and you can focus on moving forward. We’ll keep you informed at every stage and make sure you always understand what’s happening and what comes next.

How long does a postnatal PTSD claim take?

The time a claim takes depends on the complexity of the case and how quickly the other side responds. Some cases resolve relatively quickly, while others, particularly those involving more complex clinical questions, can take longer.

We’ll give you a realistic picture of likely timescales when we review your case, and keep you updated throughout the legal process.