British National Health Service is failing pregnant women

A new study published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth reveals that in the UK the standard of care following childbirth is poor, with many women suffering in silence from embarrassing conditions such as urinary and faecal incontinence.

Professor Richard Johanson, Consultant & Senior Lecturer at North Staffordshire Infirmary in Stoke-on-Trent, and his colleagues questioned approximately 500 first-time mothers about their health in the months following childbirth. The survey showed that 9-14 months after they had given birth, 35% of women experienced urinary incontinence and 4% of women suffered from faecal incontinence. In addition 25% of women experienced pain or discomfort during sex with around 4% of these women stating that their relationships had ended as a result.

The authors compared the results of their survey with previously published research, which established appropriate standards for maternity care. They found that the rates of incontinence they observed in the Staffordshire hospitals were higher than expected. Surprisingly, it seemed that the levels of incontinence they observed in their survey were unrelated to the mode of delivery (e.g. instrumental or natural delivery). This suggests that damage to the pelvic floor, a cause of incontinence, may occur during pregnancy as well as during childbirth.

Johanson and colleagues recommend that all prospective mothers should be made aware of potential complications of pregnancy and childbirth and be encouraged to seek help from health care professionals. Simple advice like a program of pelvic floor exercises or the benefits of having a caring companion present during labour to help reduce stress, for example, could help reduce the levels of incontinence experienced by mothers in the UK.

To read this article if full visit: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2393/1/4

For further information contact the author, Professor Richard Johanson email: richard@kogs.freeserve.co.uk

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