Thousands of UK new mothers are feeling abandoned by the country's underfunded and understaffed postnatal care system, with many reporting feelings of overwhelm, loneliness, and isolation in the weeks and months following childbirth.
A damning report from the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) has revealed that nearly nine out of 10 expectant and new parents in the UK - or around 87% - feel overwhelmed at some point during their first few months with a newborn. Furthermore, more than half of pregnant women admit to worrying about their mental health.
The report's findings have been described as "deeply troubling" by experts, who argue that feeling overwhelmed should never be considered normal for new parents. According to the NCT, almost a quarter - 24% - of expectant mothers do not have regular access to NHS staff in the months following birth.
Critics say that the UK's maternity system is failing to provide safe and compassionate care, with women being left without a support network at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. The NCT chief executive, Angela McConville, has called for investment, staffing, training, and accountability to be prioritised to ensure every parent can feel confident and supported.
The government has responded by saying that it is taking urgent action to improve maternity services, including launching a national investigation into the drivers of inequalities in care. However, critics argue that more needs to be done to address the root causes of these problems.
The lack of support for new mothers has been described as "unacceptable" and "a major failure of our healthcare system". The NCT report is just the latest in a long line of reports highlighting the need for improvement in UK maternity care.
A damning report from the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) has revealed that nearly nine out of 10 expectant and new parents in the UK - or around 87% - feel overwhelmed at some point during their first few months with a newborn. Furthermore, more than half of pregnant women admit to worrying about their mental health.
The report's findings have been described as "deeply troubling" by experts, who argue that feeling overwhelmed should never be considered normal for new parents. According to the NCT, almost a quarter - 24% - of expectant mothers do not have regular access to NHS staff in the months following birth.
Critics say that the UK's maternity system is failing to provide safe and compassionate care, with women being left without a support network at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. The NCT chief executive, Angela McConville, has called for investment, staffing, training, and accountability to be prioritised to ensure every parent can feel confident and supported.
The government has responded by saying that it is taking urgent action to improve maternity services, including launching a national investigation into the drivers of inequalities in care. However, critics argue that more needs to be done to address the root causes of these problems.
The lack of support for new mothers has been described as "unacceptable" and "a major failure of our healthcare system". The NCT report is just the latest in a long line of reports highlighting the need for improvement in UK maternity care.
they're literally bein' left high and dry by the system, feelin' like they're all alone in this crazy world 
. 87% of parents feelin' overwhelmed? That's insane! And to think that 24% can't even get regular NHS staff support 
. It's like the whole system is fallin' apart. We need to do better, and we need to do it NOW 
. I'm not sure what's goin' on with our healthcare system, but it's time for some serious changes 
.
I totally get why people are saying the UK's postnatal care system is failing new mums, but I think we gotta be careful not to generalize everything on them 
. I mean, it's not like all NHS staff are ignoring new parents or anything 
. And what if some mums just aren't seeking help when they need it? Maybe they're feeling too proud or worried about burdening others 
. We should be focusing on finding solutions rather than just pointing fingers 
. And yeah, investment, training, and accountability are all important steps, but what if we also need to rethink our societal expectations around new motherhood? Shouldn't we be supporting mums in a way that's more flexible and individualized 
? We can't just rely on a one-size-fits-all approach 
.
The system is supposed to be in place for them, not against them 
. We need to take care of our mums so they can thrive too 
. It's like, a no-brainer 
! The government needs to step up & prioritize these issues pronto 
. Let's get some change happening & make sure every mum feels loved, supported & empowered 
.
the thought of being overwhelmed, lonely and isolated for months on end is just too much 
we need to prioritize compassion and investment in our healthcare system, so every mum can feel confident and supported 
. But seriously, it's getting to the point where I'm worried about all these new moms and their mental health 
new mums should be getting all the support they need, not feeling overwhelmed & alone 
, expectant moms are literally left to fend for themselves after giving birth 
. we need more than just a national investigation to fix this problem, we need real action 
.