Maternal Mental Health May 2023

In October 2022, Healthwatch England launched a national online survey to gain insight into maternal mental health care – what is working well and what needs to be improved. This report explores the findings from Lincolnshire, whereby 21 women shared their experiences.

• 18 out of the 21 experienced mental health difficulties during or after birth.

What’s working well?

• 6/8 agreed that they were informed about the risks of taking medication for their mental health through pregnancy.

What needs to be improved?

• Support for mental health needs
  •  5/8 disagreed that the support offered allowed them to make informed choices about managing their mental health during pregnancy.
  • 5/8 disagreed that the healthcare professionals they saw or spoke to during their pregnancy were aware of their mental health needs.
  • Half of the respondents did not know how to access maternal mental health services.
• Timely access

Timely access to support services is crucial in preventing symptoms from getting worse. For those that were referred, 2/5 were seen within a week, an additional 2/5 were seen within 1 – 2 weeks and one had to wait 3 – 4 weeks to be seen.

In this very small sample, the longer it took to be seen correlated with symptoms worsening. Whilst waiting for support, respondents experienced a range of symptoms, including:

• Anxiety • Anger and rage • Being unable to leave the house • Suicidal thoughts • Unwanted and intrusive thoughts • Relationships breaking down • Struggling to care for others

• Back to basics

The data suggests that in some areas there is a need to go back to the basics which includes ensuring patients are listened to and involved in making decisions about their care.

• 8/21 agreed with the statement ‘I felt staff listened to me’, however, 8/21 disagreed with the statement.
• 10/21 agreed that they ‘felt involved in decisions about my care’ but 8/21 disagreed with the statement.
• 12/21 agreed that ‘any concerns they had were taken seriously by staff’ but 9/21 did not feel this way.
• 10/21 agreed with the statement ‘I felt well informed about my care, including any procedures or interventions that took place during labour and childbirth’, however, again 8/21 disagreed with this with the statement.
• Labour and after childbirth
  • 13/21 reported that their experience of labour and childbirth negatively impacted their mental health.
  • 3/21 did not have a post-natal check-up.
  • For the 18 that did have a post-natal check-up, 11/18 said mental health and wellbeing was not mentioned at all and,
  • Only 4/18 felt that mental health and wellbeing was mentioned ‘just the right amount’.

A download link to the report is below. If you need the report in another format or would like to discuss anything, please email info@healthwatchlincolnshire.co.uk or call 01205 820 892.