At Switalskis, we understand that for many parents, accessing birth records is about more than just paperwork, it’s about finding answers. Whether you’re looking into a recent birth, exploring what happened many years ago, or trying to make sense of a traumatic experience, your birth records can be an important step towards understanding your experience and, in some cases, seeking accountability.

Why You Might Want Your Birth Records

Birth records can provide a clear timeline of events, the care you received, and the decisions that were made during labour and delivery. They can be particularly valuable if:

• You experienced complications during childbirth.
• Your baby was injured during or after birth.
• You feel that your concerns weren’t listened to.
• You are investigating the circumstances of a birth many years ago.

In recent years, NHS Trusts have introduced Birth Reflection Meetings (sometimes called Birth Afterthoughts) after a traumatic birth. These sessions allow parents to discuss their experience with a senior midwife or clinician, who will review the records with you and explain what happened. While these can provide clarity, they don’t always answer every question, especially if the explanation given leaves you feeling like something was overlooked or could have been avoided.

What If I’ve Already Had My Birth Reflection Meeting?

If you’ve had a Birth Reflection Meeting and came away feeling that the Trust’s explanation didn’t match your own experience or instincts, you’re not alone. Some parents are told their experience was “inevitable” or “just one of those things,” yet they still feel something wasn’t right.

You are entitled to seek further information and a second opinion. This may involve:

• Requesting a full copy of your maternity records – not just the notes discussed at your meeting.
• Asking for a written response to any unanswered questions.
• Seeking independent legal advice from a specialist birth injury solicitor who can review the records objectively.

Sometimes, only by looking at the full set of notes and involving independent medical experts can the truth about what happened be fully understood.

How to Request Your Birth Records

Under the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR, you have the right to request your maternity records, often referred to as your ‘birth notes’. These include:

• Antenatal records.
• Labour and delivery notes.
• Postnatal notes.
• CTG traces (monitoring your baby’s heartbeat).
• Scans and test results.

You can request them by contacting the NHS Trust’s Health Records Department or Medical Records Team. This is called a Subject Access Request (SAR) and should be free of charge. NHS Trusts usually have one month to provide the records.

Accessing Records for a Historic Birth

If your birth or your child’s birth happened many years ago, some records may be archived, but they should still be available in most cases. Even if your child is now an adult, you can still request the records if you are their legal guardian or if they give you consent.

For those investigating a historic birth injury, these records can be critical to understanding what happened and whether there may be grounds for a claim – especially if your family never received a full explanation at the time.

How We Can Help

At Switalskis, our birth injury team can:

• Help you make a request for your birth records.
• Review your records in detail with the help of independent medical experts.
• Identify whether there were avoidable mistakes in your care.
• Support you through the legal process if you decide to make a claim.

If appropriate, we will seek early admissions from the NHS Trust to confirm failings in care, and interim payments to help you access rehabilitation, therapy, and support as soon as possible.