A new report by NCT, the UK’s largest parenting charity, shows new mums are left unprepared and unsupported by the NHS after they have had a baby and calls on the NHS to improve postnatal care in the UK.
The report, “Postnatal Care – a Cinderella story?”, examines women’s experiences of NHS maternity services and is based on a survey of 1,260 first time mums. Some 42% thought there were only “sometimes” or “never” enough midwives to help them in hospital. In addition, mums who had operative births (forceps, ventouse or caesarean) had the greatest gaps in care which is concerning since their needs are the greatest. Only 56% said they got all the physical care they needed and only 45% received all the information and advice they required.
