20 OCTOBER is WORLD OSTEOPOROSIS Day
PAO UK patron Rachel Newton shares her story on BBC Woman’s Hour
Award-winning Scottish harpist, singer and composer Rachel Newton appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour on Monday 26 October, sharing her experience of Pregnancy Associated Osteoporosis (PAO) and performing her moving song A Life Begun.
ADVOCACYPAO STORIES
10/26/20262 min read
Rachel, who is a patron of Pregnancy Associated Osteoporosis UK, joined presenter Nuala McGovern to discuss her music, motherhood and the devastating impact of developing PAO following the birth of her child.
Despite experiencing a relatively straightforward pregnancy, Rachel recalled feeling sudden, excruciating pain through her spine as she prepared for an unplanned Caesarean section. In the months that followed, she experienced severe pain and uncontrollable shaking, leaving her unable to care for her baby independently.
Despite receiving support from several healthcare professionals, including maternity physiotherapy and psychiatric services, the cause of her symptoms remained unexplained.
Rachel described how the expectation that women should endure pain following childbirth contributed to her accepting what she was experiencing, even though something was clearly wrong.
It was only five months after giving birth, when she had returned to performing, that a friend who had experienced PAO herself recognised Rachel’s symptoms and suggested she might have the same condition. This prompted further investigation, which eventually led to her diagnosis.
The consequences have been lasting. Rachel explained that she has lost several inches in height as a result of spinal fractures, permanently changing the structure of her body.
Recognising the red flags of PAO
Rachel’s experience highlights three important red flags identified in recent research into Pregnancy Associated Osteoporosis:
Back pain during pregnancy or after childbirth
Severe pain that interferes with activities of daily living, which may leave you unable to care for your baby or yourself
Height loss, which may indicate spinal compression fractures.
These symptoms should not simply be dismissed as normal consequences of pregnancy or motherhood. Recognising them and investigating possible underlying causes can help women receive an earlier diagnosis and appropriate care.
As a patron of PAO UK, Rachel is helping to raise awareness of this rare and often overlooked condition among women, families and healthcare professionals.
A Life Begun
Rachel also performed A Life Begun, a song she contributed to In Thin Air, the latest album by the acclaimed Spell Songs collective, inspired by The Book of Birds by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris.
Originally inspired by the image of a chick breaking through its shell, the song took on a deeper personal meaning following Rachel’s experience of childbirth and PAO.
Reflecting on the fragility of an egg and the breaking required for new life to emerge, Rachel described the image as both beautiful and heartbreaking.
Her performance offered a poignant conclusion to a conversation about pain, resilience, motherhood and the lasting changes that can follow childbirth.
We are enormously grateful to Rachel for sharing her experience so openly, using her music and public platform to help other women recognise the symptoms of PAO and feel less alone.
Listen to Rachel’s interview and performance on BBC Woman’s Hour, from 46:50.
To learn more about Pregnancy Associated Osteoporosis, its symptoms and the support available, explore the information and resources on the PAO UK website.
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