Emotional support during the perinatal experience - Collective findings Brighton & Hove 2023
What we did
We were commissioned by Healthwatch England to speak to local women who had given birth after March 2000.
Between November 2022 and January 2023, Healthwatch Brighton and Hove interviewed five women (four mothers and one partner) about the experience of emotional wellbeing during pregnancy, childbirth and up to one year after childbirth.
“It isn’t usually during the immediate post-natal period that the mother needs support, as you are just dealing with the baby, it is often months’ later, and there is rarely any follow-up.” Mum interviewed.
Experiences were partly affected by the pandemic period.
"As soon as COVID came everything face to face just stopped, and I did really struggle with that." Mum interviewed.
Questions were asked about general care and support as well as the effect on the mother (and partner) emotionally and any mental health issues experienced during this time. We were also tasked with researching local services to support Mums and their partners during the perinatal period.
Key themes drawn from the interviews are shown below.
For interview findings and a list of local services, please download the full report at the end of this page.
Healthwatch England report
Healthwatch England received five transcripts each from local Healthwatch, including Brighton and Hove (20 interviews in total). From the collective interview findings and other evidence collected directly, they produced and published a national report and several focused reports which impacted on NHS England improvements to maternity and neo-natal services. To read these reports click on the links below:
Maternal mental health: The changes your feedback made possible
Stories from new mothers: the importance of good communication
Stories from new mothers: accessing maternal mental health services
Key Themes
Based on the findings above from local mothers, Healthwatch Brighton and Hove have identified the following key themes about emotional support requirements during the peri-natal period:
Communication:
Mums want clear and honest information about what to expect during the peri-natal period. Where a Mum has concerns, these should be address with empathy and understanding.
"It is important that parents are given the right amount of information, especially in preparing them for the potential risks.”
Listen to Mum:
Mums want clear and honest information about their labour process and what is happening. Where a Mum feels that something is wrong during pregnancy or labour, the baby should be checked.
“My gut instinct was something was wrong, but I was sent home, only for the next day to be blue-lighted back to hospital.”
In-hospital experience:
Mums should be placed in a ward with other Mums who have experienced a similar birth e.g. a ward for Mums whose babies are in the special care baby unit; Mums who have lost a baby, should not be placed in a ward with lots of other babies; Mums who have babies in the special care unit, should be fully informed about the progress of their baby.
"By the time the doctors made it round, the two hours visiting [my baby in the special baby unit] was up and it was like, 'Oh we've run out of time now, so you've got to leave.'
Consistency of care:
Where possible, Mums should receive the same mid-wife support both pre- and post- birth.
“She just was the right person for us in terms of she didn't try and make it fluffy.”
Emotional support post-birth:
All Mums should be offered in-person support from a health visitor; and given information about local peer support groups.
"I think I would have [taken counselling if it was offered six months after giving birth]. Definitely think I would have done, but that wasn't something that was offered or available and, kind of, I think I just get on with things."
Staff knowledge:
GPs and health visitors should be made aware of the Mum’s birth experience, particularly where this has been traumatic. Proactive emotional support should be offered in addition to the physical check-up offered Mums at six-weeks post-birth.
“At six weeks I had a GP appointment, and it was literally just to check my baby. It was a very, very brief appointment.”
To read full findings, please download the report at the bottom of this page.
Impact:
Healthwatch Brighton and Hove interviewed five Mums who identified poor communication, lack of proactive emotional support, and insufficient staff knowledge during their peri-natal experience. Our interviews were shared with Healthwatch England, alongside 15 other interviews from other local Healthwatch. As a result of the collective findings from all 20 interviews, including those from Brighton and Hove, Healthwatch England were able to ask for policy changes regarding the emotional support given to Mums. To read about these, please see the link below:
To read the full report including interview findings and a list of local services, please download the document below:
MVP Signposting Website
During this project we worked with Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP). MVP are a team of Brighton & Hove parents, birthing people & their families, commissioners & healthcare providers who work together to review & improve local maternity care. MVP have created a Signposting & Support Website with a comprehensive list of organisations that provide support during the perinatal period and beyond. We have included this list at the end of the report and it is also available here for easy access.
Please click on the link to view: Signposting & Support: Brighton and Hove
