Almost half of new mothers – 47% – are not made aware within 24 hours of giving birth of how to spot dangerous conditions that could kill them or their baby, a poll suggests.
Only 24% of respondents to the Netmums survey said that they could remember receiving information about warning signs, despite guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) which say they should have the information within 24 hours of giving birth.
Netmums co-founder Sally Russell described the results, based on 486 responses on the parenting website, as "deeply worrying". "Many conditions are easier to treat if women realise sooner they are at risk of becoming unwell, so it is vital this information gets to them early," she said. "Pressure on budgets may mean not every family is getting the information they need but this is a false economy. If a woman becomes ill it will cost far more to treat her than the price of passing on this vital information."
Signs the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) says women should be told to look out for include heavy or persistent vaginal bleeding, fever, a rash, headaches, shortness of breath, pain or swelling in the legs, vulval or perineal areas, and difficulty or pain in passing urine.
In babies, symptoms include a temperature above 38C, a rash, feeding less than usual, floppiness, grunting while breathing and nappies being much drier than usual.
The RCM said its members were frustrated by not having enough time to spend with new mothers and babies and that addressing concerns about postnatal care was vital as the majority of maternal deaths happen post-birth. It carried out its own poll of 2,123 midwives, 950 student midwives and 98 maternity support workers, which found that 36% would like to do more for mothers and babies.
Two-thirds of midwives said the number of postnatal visits women had was dictated by their hospital's "organisational pressures", with 24% citing the women's needs. The RCM said the two polls gave weight to its campaign for 4,800 more midwives to be recruited so that there is time to give women vital information about their safety and their baby's.
Chief executive Cathy Warwick said: "It is clear that our members are taking the strain of an underfunded and under-resourced postnatal service – a service that without sufficient means can lead to harmful consequences on the health of mothers and children that the maternity team struggle to care for."
