Natural birth pressure is harming new mothers' mental health

Pressure on women from antenatal classes, social media and health care professionals to have a natural birth is causing lasting psychological harm when it does not go to plan, new research shows.

The University of Reading study found that the messages women receive during pregnancy are directly linked to the shame and self-blame many feel when those expectations are not met.

For the first time, the research provides an explanation for why unmet birth expectations contribute to psychological harm. ...