Women in the UK are being failed by a postnatal care system that is “seriously underfunded and understaffed”, a scathing report has warned.
Thousands of new mothers feel unsafe, unsupported and exhausted in the weeks and months after giving birth, according to the National Childbirth Trust (NCT).
Experts said the report was “deeply worrying” and that many women were “left without a safety net at one of the most important and vulnerable times in their lives.” They added that feeling overwhelmed should never be considered a normal part of early parenthood.
The NCT report included a survey of 2,000 new and expecting parents across the UK, including 500 women who were pregnant at the time. Nearly a quarter – 24% – said they had no regular access to NHS staff in the weeks and months after giving birth.
Nearly nine in 10 (87%) reported feeling fatigued at least some of the time, with 22% always feeling fatigued. Meanwhile, 62% reported feeling lonely sometimes, while 12% said they felt lonely all the time.
More than half of pregnant women (59%) said they were concerned about their mental health.
Angela McConville, chief executive of NCT, said: “Every major report has shown that the UK maternity system is failing to provide safe and compassionate care.
“Being a parent is rarely one-dimensional. It can be joyful, scary, overwhelming and chaotic, often all at once, and this landscape of emotions is profoundly shaped by the care and support families receive.
“At one of the most vulnerable times in their lives, many parents tell us they feel unsafe, unsupported and deprived of real choice.”
Michelle Welsh, Labor MP for Sherwood Forest and chair of the all-party Parliamentary Group on Maternity, said the NCT report was “deeply worrying”. She added that this confirmed what families and NHS staff had been telling the group for years.
“Many parents are left without a safety net at one of the most important and vulnerable times of their lives. Feeling overwhelmed, isolated or insecure should never be considered a normal part of pregnancy, childbirth or early parenthood.”
Last year, Wes Streeting, the health secretary, ordered a review of maternity and newborn care in England. The report, led by Lady Valerie Amos, is due to be released this spring and covers 12 NHS trusts. Some families have called for a full legal investigation.
Investment, recruitment, training and accountability “must be a priority to ensure every parent feels trusted, supported and heard,” McConville said.
In response to the report, the government said women should get the support they need in the first months of their babies’ lives, and that “stark inequalities” were “unacceptable”.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson added: “We expect all women to have a postnatal check-up with their GP six to eight weeks after giving birth, which includes physical and mental health support.
“This government is taking urgent action to improve maternity services – launching a national maternity and neonatal inquiry, which includes identifying the drivers of inequality, investing more than £130 million to make maternity and neonatal units safer, launching a program to reduce avoidable brain injuries, and supporting Martha’s Rule.”