According to a survey conducted by the Parent-Infant Foundation, over one in 10 women face difficulties bonding with their baby after birth. The survey also revealed that the majority of these women receive little to no support from healthcare staff. Shockingly, 73% of women reported that they did not receive any information or advice on bonding with their baby during the first few weeks following birth. This is despite recommendations for doctors and nurses to provide assistance with emotional attachment in order to promote healthy child development.
The survey respondents attributed their struggles with bonding to societal pressure and the assumption that bonding would happen naturally. These factors left them feeling guilty and fearful when the bond did not form as expected. Additionally, factors such as the mother’s physical and mental health, as well as past trauma such as baby loss, can also affect the bonding process during pregnancy.
Tamora Langley, head of policy at the Parent-Infant Foundation, emphasized the need for healthcare staff to prioritize emotional well-being alongside physical well-being. Langley suggests that with proper training, a wider range of professionals should be equipped to address emotional attachment and bonding. She also emphasizes the importance of challenging the notion of the “perfect parent,” so that pregnant women feel empowered to ask for help when needed.
Gill Walton, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, acknowledged that staff shortages among midwives often prevent them from providing the necessary support for bonding. Walton called for a national strategy to recruit and train more midwives to ensure that these vital areas of care become the norm.
The survey included testimonials from women who shared their personal experiences. One woman mentioned that despite experiencing multiple pregnancy losses before a healthy pregnancy, healthcare providers failed to acknowledge the potential difficulties in building a relationship with her baby. Another woman expressed feelings of inadequacy because she did not instantly feel a deep love for her son, contrary to the portrayal of childbirth as a magical experience.
In order to address these issues, the survey suggests that more support during pregnancy is crucial. A staggering 71% of respondents stated that they would have liked more support to bond with their baby during pregnancy, and 64% reported that nobody discussed bonding with them during their antenatal care.
Andrew Whitelaw, an emeritus professor of neonatal medicine at the University of Bristol, highlighted the hesitancy among midwives to discuss potential challenges with bonding before birth due to the focus shifting towards identifying psychiatric problems in mothers, given that suicide is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the UK. However, Whitelaw notes that one of the most effective ways to encourage bonding is through personal contact, such as placing the baby skin-to-skin on the mother’s chest immediately after delivery.
An NHS spokesperson emphasized the importance of keeping up with the latest guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) to provide the best level of care to women and their babies. The spokesperson also mentioned the recently announced delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services, which includes commitments to provide personalized care and support plans that can include advice on baby bonding.
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