UK Mothers Say Provision Of Ante-Natal Care Is Inadequate
A fifth (20%) of mothers feel they were not offered adequate antenatal care during their pregnancy, according to an alarming new survey of more than 2,000 UK women.More than half (57%) of those questioned admitted they would like to have been offered more scans during their pregnancy. The need for general reassurance was the most common reason (76%) for this, while 18% felt they should have received more attention because they had previously suffered complications.
Miscarriage was the most common concern among mums-to-be in the first three months of their pregnancy (93%), followed by pre-eclampsia (5%) and varicose veins (2%). One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage – an estimated 250,000 in the UK each year.
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Concerns such as vaginal bleeding, discharge, pelvic and abdominal pain, or a history of pregnancy problems can be treated via a highly efficient, consultant-led process, to include:
 Screening and scans, including 3D/4D imaging and tests for chromosomal abnormality
Counselling
Follow-up investigations and care
Mr Colin Davis, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at The London Clinic, says: “As starkly highlighted in the survey, there is a real demand for more general reassurance among mums-to-be from medical professionals. Miscarriage and ectopic pregnancies are more common in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Studies show that early pregnancy scans have a better outcome as they help identify and treat potential problems early and reduce overall anxiety which, in turn, leads to a reduction in miscarriages. So, being able to offer a range of scans in the very early weeks of a pregnancy can only benefit those most at risk.”
Professor Jauniaux, consultant obstetrician in foetal medicine at The London Clinic, adds: ”Bleeding in early pregnancy is one of the most common complications. There is reliable evidence that expert TLC (tender loving care) really can help to reduce the risk of miscarriage, particularly in women at risk of recurrent miscarriage. Rapid access to support from experts and progressive medical treatment is therefore essential.”
The Survey was carried out in December 2006 among 2,024 UK women for The London Clinic. The London Clinic is one of the UK’s most established independent hospitals. It is a fully equipped acute care facility that has earned a long-standing international reputation for the provision of first class medical care and facilities which continue to attract some of the capital’s most eminent specialists. For women in the early stages of pregnancy, a new service - The Early Pregnancy Screening Service, has been launched by The London Clinic to provide reassurance and treatment for women in the first five to twelve weeks of their pregnancy.
Click here for more information about miscarriage
Other Surveys Can Be Found Here.
February 2007 |
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