A survey in the annual state of maternity services report by the Royal College of Midwives found that four in ten women see up to nine or ten midwives during their pregnancy instead of being able to build a relationship and confidence in one, as is recommended. Also one fifth of women are left alone during labour, contrary to guidelines saying women should have one to one care.
Midwives are overstretched due to a baby boom and increasing numbers of women over the age of 40 having babies who require extra care due to a high risk of complications, experts said. The birth rate has increased rapidly and the rise in midwife numbers has not kept pace, the College said, meaning around 5,000 more are needed to meet the one-to-one care in labour pledge. Cathy Warwick, general secretary of the RCM, said: “In antenatal care, the problem for women is they are not getting the continuity of care they need."
The Telegraph 20/1/13
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