Maternity services in Northamptonshire: The views of parents

Healthwatch Northamptonshire worked with NHS Nene CCG to gather the experiences of parents who had used maternity services within the previous 12 months. The project involved a survey completed by 534 parents and focus groups with a further 15 parents, helping to inform local implementation of the national Better Births maternity transformation programme. 

Overall, parents were generally positive about maternity care, with most rating their experience highly. Experiences were particularly positive among those who gave birth at home or in a Midwife-Led Unit (MLU), while hospital births received slightly lower satisfaction scores. Around 77% of parents gave birth in their preferred location, although many who did not had originally hoped for a home birth or MLU delivery but gave birth in hospital due to medical reasons or service constraints. Parents who gave birth in their preferred setting also reported feeling safer and more involved in decision-making. 

A major theme was the importance of continuity of care. Parents consistently reported better experiences when they saw the same midwife or a small, familiar team throughout pregnancy and birth. Many described frustration at seeing different professionals at each appointment, receiving inconsistent advice and having to repeat information. Parents also valued healthcare professionals who listened, communicated clearly and involved them in decisions about their care. 

The report identified concerns about some aspects of labour ward and postnatal care. While many parents praised caring and supportive staff, others reported not feeling listened to, being left alone during labour, experiencing delays in pain relief, or receiving inadequate support after birth. Breastfeeding support was a particular area of concern, with some parents reporting inconsistent advice, insufficient assistance and delays in identifying issues such as tongue-tie. Experiences of health visitors were mixed, with some parents praising continuity and support while others reported missed appointments or conflicting advice. 

Mental health was another important finding. Around 18% of parents reported a mental health condition before or during pregnancy, and although most had informed a healthcare professional, less than half said they received support during pregnancy. The report also found gaps in awareness of support services relating to wellbeing issues such as smoking cessation and weight management during pregnancy. 

Healthwatch concluded that maternity services were working well for many families but identified opportunities for improvement. Recommendations included providing greater continuity of care through consistent midwifery teams, improving communication and information-sharing between professionals, ensuring parents receive clear and evidence-based information to support informed choices, expanding access to midwife-led and home birth options, offering greater choice over appointment locations, and improving coordination between maternity and health visiting services.