Who are MASIC?
MASIC exists to support women, challenge stigma and drive change.
The MASIC Foundation is the only multi-disciplinary UK charity to support women who have suffered severe injuries during childbirth known as OASI (Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries).
The charity is run by injured women and healthcare professionals who are committed to better detection and prevention of injury during childbirth.
1 organisation.3 aims.
Raising public awareness and supporting injured women
Supporting research and prevention
Educating the medical profession
Women’s stories
Breaking the silence. Read stories from MASIC advocates who have suffered injuries during childbirth.
Telling women’s stories is the most important thing we can do as a charity. When women are brave enough to speak out, change happens. This page is dedicated to telling those stories, and to the women who have been honest and incredibly brave in sharing their experience.
If you have a story to tell we are dedicated to supporting you and making your voice heard.
Please email socialmedia@masic.org.uk and we will help you to tell your story.
Geeta's Story
Had I known the risks I could have made an informed choice and life would be so very different now
Jen's Story
It’s hard to remember now, several years later, how my body and my life felt before the day my baby was born
Looking for support?
There is support available if you need it, don’t suffer in silence and don’t be afraid to ask for help and advice.
MASIC can help you over come the physical and emotional trauma you may have experienced during and after child birth. We can support you and guide you to helpful resources, all you need to do is get in touch.
Not sure where to start?
Please call the MASIC 24h freephone Birth Injury Support Helpline 0808 1640833
Meet Luce Brett
Luce Brett
Author of PMSL
My name is Luce. I’m a writer. A partner. A mum. And I had a difficult birth which left me thunderstruck, confused, sad, broken, and well, pretty angry. My reaction to birth trauma was unconventional. I wrote a book – a gory, funny, moving book – about the truth of it for me, what I saw and heard and felt as I gave birth and then coped with injuries, continence issues, depression, and trauma. I needed to speak out because traumatic births are often undiscussed. Recognition is important – we don’t talk enough about births that aren’t picture-perfect, as if they should be hidden in shame. Like MASIC, I’m here to say it isn’t shameful. And don’t worry – you have found your people. Like my book this website is a place for all of you – the entertainers, the shell-shocked, new mums and old hands – to share, process, or even just start to think about what is happening, and why googling ‘birth trauma’ or ‘MASIC’ late at night is a good thing. You are not alone.
The stats speak for themselves.More women are affected and need support…
85%
of women with severe birth injury said it impacted on their relationship with their child
78%
were affected by traumatic memories of the birth
52%
stated they were embarrassed by the symptoms of their injury
49%
of women affected said they doubted their ability to mother
45%
suffered postnatal depression as a result of their injury
24%
of women affected regretted having a child because of the injuries sustained
Meet the MASIC team
We are a collection of healthcare professionals & MASIC advocates, existing to give a voice to women’s childbirth stories.
Chloe Oliver
CEO
Anna Clements
Events/Education and Support Services Manager
Jen Hall
Digital Communications and Campaign Manager
Products that will help improve your life
Products that can help make everyday life a bit easier.
After sustaining a birth injury it is so important to know that there are products and services out there that can help make everyday life a little bit easier, and help you to feel a little bit more like YOU again.
We recommend the products here that have been tried and tested by our MASIC advocates – women who understand what it’s like to cope with symptoms on a daily basis, and who know what has helped them.
MASIC News
Keep up to date with all our latest news and stories
If you would like to be kept informed of MASIC’s work and our most recent projects please click on our news items in this section and sign up to our MASIC mailing list.
We would love to hear from you if you are an injured woman or a health professional interested in working with us.