Half of mothers are suffering mentally and physically after traumatic births, research finds: Pressure for change mounting on Wes Streeting
Wes Streeting is under fresh pressure to improve maternity services after research found half of mothers were left suffering mentally and physically following traumatic births.
A survey of new mums found one in four had a negative birthing experience, of whom 72 per cent said it had left them with long-term mental health impacts.
Overall, 54 per cent said they experienced physical health problems, while 44 per cent had mental health issues as a result of their birth experience.
The research, based on a survey of more than 1,000 mothers, was published in a report by the grassroots maternity care campaign Delivering Better, which is calling for greater continuity of care throughout pregnancy and for GPs to proactively contact mothers after birth to check on their health.
Jo Cruse, who founded the campaign after her own experience of a traumatic birth, said: ‘Underneath the statistics of a maternity care crisis are thousands of mothers broken by births, suffering in silence and accepting this is just “something that happens”.’ She urged Mr Streeting to ‘take immediate action’.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: ‘We are committed to transforming the NHS and maternity and neonatal services to ensure all women and their babies get safe, personalised and compassionate care.’
The news comes as last month a damning report revealed growing numbers of new mothers do not trust NHS maternity services.
A survey of almost 19,000 women who gave birth at 120 NHS trusts in England showed confidence in staff has dropped sharply over the last five years.
A survey of new mums found one in four had a negative birthing experience, of whom 72 per cent said it had left them with long-term mental health impacts
Overall, 54 per cent said they experienced physical health problems, while 44 per cent had mental health issues as a result of their birth experience
Fewer than two-thirds (64 per cent) said they ‘always’ had access to help and support during this crucial time, down from 72 per cent in 2019.
Many reported concerns about being left with insufficient pain relief, not being listened to and not always being spoken to in a way they could understand, the Care Quality Commission data shows.
Experts said that while there were notable improvements in areas such as mental health support, the downward trend in other areas ‘should ring alarm bells’.
Almost one in five people said when they raised concerns during labour and birth, they were not taken seriously.
