UK Wedding News
07/10/2014
The study, carried out by the NCT and Netmums, found 45% of mothers feel this way. 26% said they felt their check-up was "rushed", with 19% of checks lasting less than five minutes. A further 7% said they wanted to discuss how they were feeling but there wasn't enough time.
More than 4,000 women took part in the study; of those, 29% said their GP did not ask them about any emotional or mental health issues, with 22% confessing they were not truthful during the appointment, instead choosing to hide how they really felt. Some 43% said their GP did not understand their background or any of their babies' special circumstances.
Other findings from the poll revealed that 20% of parents said their check lasted up to five minutes, and 36% said it lasted between five and 10 minutes. Around a third said they didn't know what their check-up would involve as they were not told by a midwife, while others were told different things by a GP and midwife. Of those that did not have an appointment, 20% said they were not even aware of a check-up.
Belinda Phipps, CEO of the NCT, said: "The six week postnatal check-up is a key opportunity to spot potential problems for new mums. Problems such as postnatal depression can develop from this stage, as well as other physical and psychological disorders, so it is worrying that almost a third of women were not even asked about how they felt. Identification early on is crucial.
"We need to ensure that GPs are aware of the right questions to ask, to be asking them directly and acting promptly in response when necessary. If a GP or midwife has concerns about a woman with a new baby, they need to have a robust referral system in place."
Cathy Ranson, Editor-in-Chief at Netmums, added: "The six week check is a vital safety net for new mums – but this study shows this system isn't working.
"Investing a little more time and money in the check could potentially pick up serious emotional and psychological issues much earlier, saving the NHS millions in treatment costs later down the line."
Professor Debra Bick, Professor of Evidence Based Midwifery Practice at King's College London, commented: "Sadly, these findings are not surprising. Studies conducted over the last two decades found a wide range of postnatal physical and mental health problems, some of which persisted for months or even years after the birth.
"A six to eight week check-up is an important opportunity to identify how women are feeling physically and mentally and ensure those who may benefit from longer follow-up continue to receive the care they need."
(JP/IT)
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Six Week Postnatal Check-Ups 'Unsatisfactory'
New research has found that almost half of new mums feel their six seek postnatal check-up was unsatisfactory.The study, carried out by the NCT and Netmums, found 45% of mothers feel this way. 26% said they felt their check-up was "rushed", with 19% of checks lasting less than five minutes. A further 7% said they wanted to discuss how they were feeling but there wasn't enough time.
More than 4,000 women took part in the study; of those, 29% said their GP did not ask them about any emotional or mental health issues, with 22% confessing they were not truthful during the appointment, instead choosing to hide how they really felt. Some 43% said their GP did not understand their background or any of their babies' special circumstances.
Other findings from the poll revealed that 20% of parents said their check lasted up to five minutes, and 36% said it lasted between five and 10 minutes. Around a third said they didn't know what their check-up would involve as they were not told by a midwife, while others were told different things by a GP and midwife. Of those that did not have an appointment, 20% said they were not even aware of a check-up.
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Belinda Phipps, CEO of the NCT, said: "The six week postnatal check-up is a key opportunity to spot potential problems for new mums. Problems such as postnatal depression can develop from this stage, as well as other physical and psychological disorders, so it is worrying that almost a third of women were not even asked about how they felt. Identification early on is crucial.
"We need to ensure that GPs are aware of the right questions to ask, to be asking them directly and acting promptly in response when necessary. If a GP or midwife has concerns about a woman with a new baby, they need to have a robust referral system in place."
Cathy Ranson, Editor-in-Chief at Netmums, added: "The six week check is a vital safety net for new mums – but this study shows this system isn't working.
"Investing a little more time and money in the check could potentially pick up serious emotional and psychological issues much earlier, saving the NHS millions in treatment costs later down the line."
Professor Debra Bick, Professor of Evidence Based Midwifery Practice at King's College London, commented: "Sadly, these findings are not surprising. Studies conducted over the last two decades found a wide range of postnatal physical and mental health problems, some of which persisted for months or even years after the birth.
"A six to eight week check-up is an important opportunity to identify how women are feeling physically and mentally and ensure those who may benefit from longer follow-up continue to receive the care they need."
(JP/IT)
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