Women maternity_care, Newham

Aim: This report aims to provide a general picture of the pregnancy journey of mothers living in Newham or using out-of-borough maternity services, and to give a glimpse of how maternity care is being experienced among mothers in Newham.

A survey was developed by Healthwatch Newham staff and a Healthwatch volunteer, and focussed on choices of birth, antenatal and post-natal care, breastfeeding support, and community services.

General care, findings included: Information was not consistently provided to mothers at time of emergency, delays or non-clarity. Mothers may have had a named midwife during their pregnancy, but were seeing different midwives. This experience was often described as ‘difficult to build a relationship’. Postnatal care of community midwives and health visitors: They were described generally as ‘very good’ and ‘caring’, but often ‘rushed’. Some midwives were described as ‘refused to help’, ‘noted down inaccurate information’, or ‘advised to go to a drop-in clinic for advice’. Breastfeeding support: It was often either limited or not provided

Hospital care; hospital midwives: 57% contacted a midwife or birth unit at the start of their labour, while 43% did not. There is a mixed experience of midwives. At Newham Hospital Delivery Suite, they were described either as ‘good’ or ‘rude’. At Newham Hospital Birth Centre, generally they were described as ‘good’ or ‘supported mother’s decision’. At both Newham and Royal London, student midwives were described as ‘great’. At Homerton Hospital, midwives were ‘supportive’

Recommendations include; ensuring that community support is an integral part of the postnatal support and defined within the service specification, for example, breastfeeding support, signposting, information and advice after the birth and home visits.