A shocking new report has revealed the scale of suffering experienced by mothers across the UK due to inadequate maternity care. In response, a grassroots campaign, Delivering Better, launched today, is urging Health Secretary Wes Streeting to take immediate action to address the crisis in maternity services.
The Alarming Statistics
The report, based on research conducted by Delivering Better, paints a grim picture of the state of maternity care in the UK:
1 in 4 mothers (24%) report having a negative birth experience.
72% of mothers who had a poor birthing experience say it caused long-term mental health impacts.
Over a third (37%) said their experience negatively affected their ability to work, and almost half (48%) reported it harmed their relationships.
More than half (54%) of those with negative experiences said it left them less likely to want more children.
58% of women who reported a negative birth said they didn’t feel listened to during delivery.
The Call for Change
Delivering Better is calling for urgent reforms to ensure every mother and birthing person in the UK has access to safe, compassionate, and evidence-based maternity care. The campaign highlights the need for:
Continuity of care: The majority of mothers (88%) want the opportunity to see the same midwife throughout their pregnancy.
Proactive postpartum check-ins: Delivering Better is urging GPs to contact mothers at three and six months postpartum to check on their physical and mental health, addressing the gap in care following the current six-week check, which many mothers say is inadequate.
Increased investment: The campaign demands more funding for midwifery and maternity services to address critical staffing shortages and ensure consistent care.
Jo Cruse, founder of Delivering Better, shared her personal story of trauma and long-term impacts from her own birth experience, emphasising the need for immediate action:“Underneath the statistics of a maternity care crisis are thousands of mothers broken by births, suffering in silence. A healthy baby can still result in an unhealthy mother – a reality overlooked too often. What human cost has to be paid before we start to see urgent change?”
Real Stories of Struggle
The campaign’s report also includes harrowing stories from mothers whose traumatic birth experiences have left lasting scars.
Sophie, 34, from Cardiff, described her experience:“My birth was the stuff of nightmares. Miscommunication and delays led to a series of complications that not only left me unable to have more children but also caused flashbacks, emotional distress, and damage to my relationships. I wasn’t offered any support, and they haven’t accepted liability.”
The Wider Impact
The crisis extends beyond mothers to the midwives and healthcare professionals supporting them. Abigail Latif from March with Midwives explained:“Staffing shortages have left resources stretched far too thinly, putting women and midwives in dire situations. We’re losing too many good midwives because they no longer feel they can stay in the profession. This is a crisis affecting women, families, and healthcare workers alike.”
Join the Movement
Delivering Better is calling on mothers, midwives, partners, and allies to sign an open letter to Wes Streeting, demanding immediate action to improve maternity services.
For more information about the campaign and to join the movement, visit deliveringbetter.org.
It’s time to ensure every mother and birthing person in the UK receives the dignity, respect, and care they deserve.
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