Building up a relationship with your midwife is crucial: maternity experiences in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
Download (PDF 683.27 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Nottingham and Nottinghamshire undertook a survey to find out people’s experiences of local maternity services in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. 28 responses were received.
The findings of the survey highlight multiple examples of outstanding maternity care, with women noting the challenges that Covid caused for maternity services. However, local families also told about a range of issues in their maternity care and the effects this had on them.
More staff are needed, particularly for postnatal care in hospital. Women needed more support while on the postnatal wards. Staffing shortages had a knock-on effect on the other areas people felt needed improvement.
Women said what a positive difference continuity of care made to their maternity experience. However, multiple women who received care by Sherwood Forest Hospital said that they received continuity of care in previous pregnancies but not in their most recent pregnancy.
Women need more support with feeding their babies, particularly more breastfeeding support.
Some maternity experiences happened during times of Covid restrictions in maternity care. Women told of the challenges of not always having their partner with them, both in terms of support for mother and baby, as well as the partner feeling left out.
Women could not always give birth at their intended place of birth due to the home birth services not being available.
Some women experienced good communication and talked about the positive impact that midwives made by listening to women and supporting them in their birth preferences. However, Healthwatch also heard from families who felt their concerns were dismissed.
Women didn’t always feel listened to when requesting medication and did not receive pain medication in a timely manner.
The report includes seven recommendations about increasing staffing, supporting breastfeeding, continuity of care, involving partners, communication and access to pain relief.