Maternity Matters

Healthwatch Thurrock’s 'Maternity Matters' work emerged as a result of various factors at both local and national levels. These influences created the perfect opportunity to take a closer look at the experiences of expecting and new parents in Thurrock, with the aim of enhancing services both locally and nationally.  They undertook a survey between September 2023 to February 2024 to which 79 people responded.

Antenatal care findings

A recurring theme is communication issues with midwives and clinicians. This often led to misunderstandings or a lack of support. Notably, many of the new parents  interviewed were pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic, preparing to give birth either during or shortly after it. This context likely contributed to the limited availability of antenatal classes and a perceived lack of support. It is important to note that Maternity Direct + was an invaluable resource to expecting parents during the pandemic, and that efforts were made to bridge communication gaps during the pandemic. 

Another significant issue is the inconsistency in seeing the same midwife at each antenatal appointment. This inconsistency often led to fragmented experiences for the expecting parents, increasing the likelihood of communication breakdowns. In contrast, the positive experiences largely stemmed from good communication between the expecting parents and their midwives or medical professionals, coupled with excellent quality of care. 

Half of expecting parents had their antenatal appointments at a family hub rather than a GP practice or a traditional medical setting. This shift towards community care highlights the value of family hubs, which, since their inception, have provided a safe and communal environment for new parents. These hubs not only offer antenatal care but also facilitate engagement and emotional support by connecting expecting or new parents with one another. Moreover, expecting parents expressed a desire for more antenatal classes, particularly those offering practical advice on giving birth, such as breathing exercises and pain relief. They also indicated a need for practical classes on topics like changing nappies, car seat safety, and bathing.

Postnatal care findings

Some of the ‘positive’ feedback is actually linked to care provided after a particularly negative experience. Although there is generally strong positive feedback regarding postnatal care, it's noticeable that more respondents neither agreed nor disagreed about the quality of their postnatal care. 

In contrast, the feedback on antenatal care was more definitive. This could stem from various factors, such as their pre-birth experiences, complications during childbirth, and the level of support needed by new parents after the birth. 

From the ‘negative’ postnatal experiences shared, it is evident that the lack of breastfeeding support has significantly contributed to dissatisfaction among new parents. Numerous new mothers reported discontinuing breastfeeding due to inadequate support and feeling poorly treated by professionals. This lack of support also appears to be linked to postnatal anxiety, highlighting a gap in the emotional support that should accompany breastfeeding guidance. In response, the Family Hub service has established a Parent Carer Panel service with a ‘You Said; We Did’ element.

Maternal mental health

Only half of expecting parents were offered mental health check-ins or were informed about perinatal mental health services. The lived experiences highlight that stigma around mental health during pregnancy still persists. One way to combat this stigma is by ensuring that 100% of expecting parents are offered mental health check-ins and informed about the available perinatal mental health services. Additionally, the data shows that when an expecting parent raised a mental health concern, it was taken seriously by a professional 64% of the time. However, some partners of expecting mothers were not offered any mental health support, even after witnessing traumatic births. It's crucial that partners receive mental health support as well, alongside the pregnant/new mother.

The report has nine recommendations