Post natal care vital

Royal College of Midwives launches campaign to improve care after childbirth.

Pressure Points is a new series of research reports from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) designed to highlight what they see as the shortcomings of post natal care in the UK.

The most recent report is called 24 hour signs and symptoms.

It focuses on how well mothers are being told, within 24 hours of the birth, of the signs and symptoms they need to look for in their own health and in the health of their new baby that should alert them to any need to seek medical attention.

The Royal College survey involved asking mothers, midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs), and they say the results they got back are ‘a concern’.

Only around a quarter of mothers (24 per cent), surveyed by Netmums, recalled being told about the signs and symptoms to look for, while almost a half (47 per cent) said they were definitely not told.

The RCM says women don’t get this information because midwives are overstretched and don’t have the time to give women the care they need - and deserve.

When surveyed by the RCM less than a quarter of midwives believed that the number of postnatal visits a woman received was determined by her needs; almost two thirds thought the number was determined by the pressures on their maternity unit.

Over a third of midwives and maternity support workers (MSWs) said they wanted to spend more time with women at this crucial time.

Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “It is clear that there is a great deal of frustration amongst maternity care staff because they want to do more but can’t because of the lack of numbers.

“It is clear that mothers, babies and families are being short-changed when it comes to postnatal care.

“Midwives want to give better care but can’t because there aren’t enough of them, especially in England, and resources are too thinly spread.”

The first report in the Pressure Points series focused on improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of new mothers.

The RCM is urging supporters to 'like' their campaign on Facebook, follow it on Twitter using the hashtag #pressurepoints and by sharing their infographic.

“Birth will always be special, but postnatal care is just as important to get right.

“Good maternal health and high quality maternity care throughout pregnancy and after birth can have a marked effect on the health and life chances of newborn babies, on the healthy development of children and on their resilience to health problems encountered later in life.

“Postnatal care is crucial in ensuring parents feel adequately supported and equipped with the skills and knowledge to give their baby the best possible start in life,” Warwick said.

“Please support our campaign to make sure that happens.”

Story published on Women's Views on News, 17 April 2014.