Experiences of pregnancy, birth and onwards

Healthwatch Northamptonshire were commissioned to engage with CYP and families to inform the local transformation plan for emotional wellbeing and mental health, including perinatal mental health.  They worked with parents to help design a questionnaire which asked parents with infants or young children their views on the help and support they received during pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period. The questionnaire was completed by 77 new parents.

They found that whilst the majority of parents felt they had received good care and support during pregnancy, labour and after birth, there was variability in their experiences, a number of perceived gaps in services and points where they would have liked more support. The quality of care and supportiveness of healthcare professionals, particularly midwives, had the biggest impact on the experience of pregnancy and labour.

Being listened to was valued, particularly when wanting a level of choice with birth – a number of parents gave positive feedback about the homebirth team because of this. Parents also wished to see the same healthcare professionals (particularly midwives and health visitors) for continuity of care.

The quality of information and advice was also important, during pregnancy, labour and after birth. Many felt that the NHS ante-natal classes were too basic and preferred alternative, non-NHS classes. There was also a desire for more information and advice about breastfeeding and other support available to families after birth. Parents suggested that this advice and information should be available in one, central place.

Many parents had greatly benefited from breastfeeding support cafés/groups, especially by having easy access to experts for technical and emotional support. These also facilitated valuable peer support and networking. A number of parents were disappointed about the closure of these cafés/groups and the reduction in services provided at children’s centres and were concerned about where alternative support could be found.

Most parents with older children felt they did not receive much support once their child had turned one, just routine checks and vaccinations. Many had benefited from using universal services (such as play activities and parent classes/groups) at children’s centres with previous children and did not feel they had the same level of services now.

One third of mothers had experienced a mental health issue at some point before they got pregnant (including previous post-natal depression), 11% during pregnancy, and 25% after birth. Medical support for depression, etc. was available from GPs but there was some dissatisfaction with the support received and suggestions that parents would value additional support, such as counselling and assistance. Some felt that health visitors needed to take more interest in the wellbeing of the mother after birth. Suggestions of what help or information should be available for parents during pregnancy and afterwards were for more information and advice, peer support and breastfeeding support as well as access to health visitors/midwives, mental health and wellbeing support and someone to ‘check in’ on how they were doing. Therefore, drop-in events and centres providing all this under one roof would meet most needs of parents after birth.