Based on the views of first-time mothers that used the NHS Baby LifeCheck online questionnaire, five months and one week after giving birth has been highlighted as the crucial time to offer support.
This is the time when visits from friends and family decline and when first-time mothers feel most anxious and isolated about their baby’s wellbeing. The time also coincides with changes in the baby’s development such as weaning.
The research found that at this time first-time mothers asked the most questions, particularly around weaning, sleeping and safety.
Kayleigh Pillington, one of those that took part in the survey, said: "Everyone is so excited about the baby at first, but five months in when you’ve got more questions than ever because they’re doing all these new things, interest in you and the baby really dies down. That’s when I started to feel anxious, it was all on my shoulders and I just wasn’t sure if I was doing it right."
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