Afraid, in pain and alone – new mothers' NHS ordeals

Published on Tuesday 24 November 2009 21:50

MORE than one in three new mothers are left alone and worried during labour or shortly after giving birth, a poll found yesterday.

The survey of more than 3,500 women logging onto Netmums.com also found 30 per cent received no antenatal classes through the NHS.

A total of 43 per cent did not have access to a midwife while they were on a postnatal ward while 35 per cent were left alone during labour or just after, at a time when they felt worried.

The UK-wide survey, commissioned by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), was released on the eve of the union's annual conference in Manchester.

The NHS in England has said all women should be supported by a midwife they know and trust throughout their pregnancy and after birth.

Women should also be able to choose where they give birth, including in a consultant-led unit in a hospital, a midwife-led unit or at home.

The survey found only 68 per cent of women were offered a choice of where to give birth but only 56 per cent were offered the chance of a home birth.

Sally Russell, co-founder of Netmums.com, said: "Becoming a mum is always a life-changing experience, and midwives and maternity services have a special place and responsibility at this crucial time for new mums.

"This survey's results should demonstrate to the government just how stretched maternity services are.

"It shows that our members want, need and deserve one-to-one care from midwives but they are not getting this and are left alone and feeling abandoned during labour, and especially in the vital postnatal period."

Health minister Ann Keen said there had been "record investment" in the NHS in recent years including an additional 330 million for maternity services.

"We would encourage women to discuss how they would like to get the information they need early in their pregnancy to enable them to make informed choices about what is best for them and their baby," she said.

Melissa Wallace, who runs babytastic.com, offering free online antenatal classes, said: "It is of no surprise that one in three new mothers feels left alone and worried after giving birth as most advice (be it NHS or private] only covers up to labour and birth.

"So many mothers nowadays also live away from their family due to work commitments so don't have the same support network as would have been the case 30 years ago."

Belinda Phipps, chief executive of the National Childbirth Trust, said the poll was the latest in a "long line of surveys" that showed how overstretched maternity services were taking their toll on mothers. She said: "If women and babies are to receive high-quality care as soon as possible, it will require sustained investment and commitment to maternity services."