04-08-2006 11:17
Two out of five (39 per cent) pregnant women and over half (56 per cent) of expectant dads are ‘very worried’ about something being wrong with their baby before it is born . During their pregnancy, 18 per cent are women worried about putting on weight they can’t lose and 17 per cent are worried about their antenatal tests. Regarding the labour and birth, a third of women are worried about the possibility of a miscarriage, coping with pain and having a caesarean. Other concerns of new parents also include food and drink during pregnancy and going into labour early.
The NCT believes these are only natural worries that most new parents and parents-to-be experience; this is why it has launched a new Pregnancy and Birth telephone line to provide extra information for families expecting a baby.
The Pregnancy and Birth telephone line, sponsored by Comfort Pure fabric conditioner, provides confidential information and support about pregnancy and birth issues for anyone expecting a baby. Callers will reach an experienced and qualified NCT antenatal teacher especially trained to provide support and information over the telephone and answer common queries, such as how maternity services work and information about eating, tiredness, exercise and morning sickness.
Mothers and father to be, especially those expecting a baby for the first time, need information -70% of first time mums say they want as much information as possible . Younger women and those from poor families want even more information. While two in three women find written information useful, many parents like to be able to talk to people who are good listeners and are easy to understand.
Women may feel hesitant about taking the time of a midwife, aware as they are of the shortage, so the NCT hopes the new line will encourage women to call and have their questions answered and give them a chance to chat through their worries and other non medical matters. The NHS is short of midwives in certain areas and parents often need access to information and support outside of their planned antenatal appointments. The NCT believes the new line will help take some of the pressure off midwives by supplying information and reassurance to many pregnant women and their partners.
The Pregnancy and Birth Line was trialled earlier this year and received more than 800 calls in four months, even though it was not promoted in any way. Nine out of ten callers said they would recommend the line to someone else and eight out of ten said ringing the Line made them feel more confident.
NCT Chief Executive Belinda Phipps says “The Pregnancy and Birth Line offers a reliable and trusted source of information for parents, during what is an exciting and often new period in their lives. The 800 calls we have already received to the line show there is great need for this service and we hope the line will help give parents the best experience of pregnancy and childbirth.”
Stephanie Mackenzie from Comfort Pure, who is helping to fund the Line, said “Comfort Pure is proud to support the NCT’s Pregnancy and Birth Line to help more parents have easy access to information in the months and weeks before their baby is born.”
The Pregnancy and Birth helpline is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 2pm on 0870 444 8709. Calls to the line are charged at national rates.
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