Mothers want more support from health visitors and midwives

Mothers want more continuity of care from midwives and health visitors during pregnancy and the months after their baby is born.

A poll of 1,346 mums, commissioned by national charity 4Children, showed that pregnant women want a dedicated midwife and two thirds (63%) of mums see a health visitor for two months or less and 17% were disappointed with the support they received from their health visitor.

Ninety per cent of the mums polled said that they had the support of a midwife. Of these, 39% said seeing the same midwife at each antenatal appointment could have improved their experience of pregnancy. More frequent appointments (31%) and less hurried, more relaxed appointments (26%) would also have made a positive difference.

The research, which was carried out by Bounty Parenting Club, found but almost a third of mums-to-be feel they cannot be completely honest with their midwife, although midwives are the most popular source of antenatal information for 90% of pregnant women. A quarter (25%) of mothers source information about pregnancy from a children’s centre. 4Children is recommending that midwives and health visitors are based at their local children’s centres to provide joined up support and referrals for those who need extra help.

4Children Chief Executive Anne Longfield said:

It is clear from our research that mothers want a dedicated midwife throughout their pregnancy with more frequent appointments which are less hurried.

It is very worrying that mothers-to-be feel they can’t be completely honest with their midwife about concerns they have about their unborn child, especially as midwives are their primary source of information about pregnancy.  Seeing the same midwife throughout their pregnancy would build up trust which would help mums to raise concerns or issues so assistance can be provided at an early stage.”

The survey suggests mothers from low income families are more likely to see health visitors for a shorter time after the birth of their baby than more affluent mothers. It shows 18% of mums from low income families see a health visitor for more than four months after the birth of their child, compared to 22% of wealthier mums.

Although numbers of health visitors are increasing, there is no minimum requirement as to how much contact a health visitor should have with a mother. Health visitors work as part of a team of professionals who deliver the Government’s Healthy Children Programme.

The Department for Health, alongside its partners, has today published six early years high impact areas documents to help local authorities in commissioning children's public health services. Earlier this year NHS England, with Public Health England's Child and Maternal Health Intelligence Network published profiles about the health of children during their early years which will, in part, help health visitors identify areas for improvement. This is in line with the Health Visitor Implementation Plan which aims to increase the number of health visitors and develop coverage of the service by April 2015.

Anne Longfield said:

Bringing a baby home from hospital is one of the most exciting moments of a mother’s life which is filled with hope for the future. However the first months of a baby’s life can be a very uncertain time for mothers and the support of a health visitor can make a real difference to whether a baby is flourishing or not. Children’s Centres can provide a base for midwives and health visitors to provide joined up support and referrals for those who need extra help.

Bounty Spokesmum, Lisa Penney, said:

The number of discussions asking for advice about postnatal support on our web forums indicates a worrying level of uncertainty amongst some parents.  It would be helpful if all mothers were offered access to clear, consistent advice from the medical profession before and after the birth."

ENDS

Notes to editors

The 1,346 mums polled in March 2014 were either pregnant or have a child under four-years-old.

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