New mums missing out on vital 6-week postnatal check, warns watchdog
Louisa Sherlock
Associate EditorThe routine postnatal assessments are ‘simply not taking place’, meaning mental health problems and other issues are going unnoticed
Getting checked over by a GP in the weeks after you’ve given birth is really important.
Not only can a GP check new mums are recovering physically, they can also help spot the signs of any mental health issues like postnatal depression.
But according to a patients' watchdog, many new mums could be missing out on their routine 6-week postnatal check.
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What did the study find?
GPs are required to assess new mothers’ mental health and wellbeing 6-8 weeks after giving birth.
Yet a poll of 2,693 new mums by Healthwatch England found 16% didn’t receive their routine postnatal check-up.
Of the mums who did, 15% were assessed over the phone. Just 22% were satisfied with the amount of time their GP talked to them about their mental health.
The study also found around two-thirds of the women polled said they had struggled with their mental health during and after pregnancy. Of these, 41% said they received no support for this.
'Frequently carried out as a tick-box exercise'
This means issues with mental health could be going unnoticed, the watchdog warned.
And the watchdog also warned this could cause problems for mums – some had revealed they struggled to leave the house while others found it hard to bond with their baby.
Louise Ansari from Healthwatch England said: ‘Our findings show that, although most new mothers and birthing parents are likely to be invited to a postnatal consultation, these are frequently carried out as a tick-box exercise where mental health is not treated as a priority or not assessed at all.’
The findings come after a report found pregnant women are often 'neglected' when in labour.
What happens at your 6-week postnatal check?
Your GP surgery is required to offer and provide you with a postnatal check. But you can make an appointment for a check-up any time you like.
Your postnatal check will be done by a GP. Checks can slightly vary depending on where you live, but will usually include the following:
- You'll be asked how you're feeling, so that the doctor can get a general impression of your mental health and wellbeing.
- You'll be asked whether you're still experiencing any vaginal discharge and whether you've had a period since giving birth.
- Your blood pressure will be checked if you had any problems during pregnancy or straight after birth.
- If you had any tears or an episiotomy and needed stitches, the GP will offer to examine them to see if they have healed properly. They will also offer to check your stitches if you had a C-section.
- You'll be able to discuss contraception with your GP.
- Your doctor may also check your weight, and will provide guidance if they think your weight is unhealthy.
This is also your chance to ask any questions about when it's safe to do certain activities after giving birth, such as exercise or having sex, along with anything else you might be concerned about.
Where to get help and support
If you're struggling with your mental health during or after pregnancy, help is out there. You are not alone.
Our Parent Supporters are on hand to support you in our Maternal Mental Health forum. They can give you expert help and signpost you to further professional support if needed.
An NHS spokesman said: ‘The NHS is working with GPs and patient groups to ensure that all new mums receive a postnatal check covering mental and physical health six weeks after giving birth, as is set out in the GP contract.’
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