Mothers miss out on quality postnatal care

A Care Quality Commission (CQC) survey of mothers found that only 52 per cent received help and advice from health professionals about feeding, down from 56 per cent the previous year.

One in five women surveyed said they did not get enough information about their own recovery after giving birth and 21 per cent said the information they were given about emotional issues after birth was lacking.

Dr Tony Falconer, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: "The survey still highlights the need for changes in postnatal care in particular support for breast feeding and the early detection of significant emotional or psychological changes experienced during the postnatal period.
 
"This underlines the necessity of having appropriately trained professionals readily available at all stages of pregnancy."

The survey was completed by 25,000 women who gave birth in February this year, who were canvassed on a range of maternity services.

CQC chief executive Cynthia Bower said that poor-quality postnatal care was a concern for the commission.

She said: "There have been few improvements in postnatal care, with worryingly fewer women saying they receive the information or explanations they need.

"New parents need to feel reassured at this particularly important time in their lives as they embark on parenthood. It is important for trusts to focus their attention on improvements in this area and ensure that handovers to community services and support networks for new parents are managed effectively."