Feeling ignored, neglected and having feelings and experiences dismissed are the most frequent issues raised by women in nearly 170 birth stories that were shared with and analysed by Sky News.

Others said that staffing levels on maternity wards were not sufficient or that doctors, nurses and midwives were overstretched.

These two factors contributed to many feeling there were delays to their receiving crucial care, or that their treatment was not escalated when it should have been.

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As well as stories of physical trauma, there were many reports of significant mental health impacts, some of which are ongoing decades after the births took place, in some cases contributing to decisions not to have further children.

Others mentioned being forced into sur

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