With one in four women experiencing mental health problems during pregnancy and in the first year following the birth of a child, support from maternity services can significantly impact their mental health and wellbeing.
In 2020, NHS England launched six-week mental health checks for new mothers to ensure they feel well and have the support they need if they struggle with their mental health.
A recent review of the evidence of 2,500 people’s experiences of maternity services showed that feedback from patients to Healthwatch about maternity care is worsening.
One respondent, from Havering in East London, said: “There was a complete lack of care and communication from the staff which left me feeling vulnerable, abandoned and scared. I felt like an inconvenience to medical staff and as though I was on a birthing conveyor belt.
“I do not recall words of encouragement from the midwives. I just needed one of them to hold my hand and tell me that I was okay. Giving birth is a life-changing experience and one that makes you feel extremely vulnerable. I was left feeling violated, frightened and alone. The mental health of mothers is equally as important as their physical health.”
In response to the worsening feedback, Healthwatch has launched a national survey to understand better what is working and what needs improving for people who develop mental health difficulties relating to their maternity experience.
We want to hear from all women who have been pregnant in the last two years and have suffered mental health difficulties before, during or after giving birth. We are particularly interested in the experiences of women from ethnic minority communities and LGBTQ+ birthing parents.
Our national survey aims to give you the opportunity to share your views and experiences to help us better understand what is working and what needs improving for new parents.
For instance, we want to know whether the support you received for your mental health during pregnancy and birth met your needs. We also want to see if you had your six-week postnatal check-up and what it was like.
Everything you tell us is confidential and will help us and the NHS understand what they need to put in place to better support people like you.
So whether you had a positive or negative experience with mental health support during or after pregnancy, we want to hear it.
The survey can be completed here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/MaternalMentalHealthSurvey/
