Released on: 19 January 2026
While the majority of parents enjoy the early days of parenthood, nearly nine in ten (87%) report feeling overwhelmed sometimes, often, or always during the postnatal period.
Based on a survey of more than 2,000 new and expectant parents, NCT’s findings capture how families are navigating pregnancy, birth and early parenthood within a maternity system under immense strain and scrutiny.
Being pregnant today
The research also explored the experiences of 500 women and people who were pregnant at the time of the survey. More than half said they:
- Worry about their mental health (59%)
- Worry they won’t be good parents (52%)
- Worry they won’t have the skills to look after their baby (51%)
These worries sit alongside serious safety concerns, with nearly six in ten pregnant women and people telling us they worried if the place they wanted to give birth would be safe (56%).
Giving birth in the UK
Parents also reported feeling unsupported during labour and birth, describing a lack of personalised care, listening, and genuine choices; mirroring themes emerging in the National Investigation into Maternity and Neonatal Care.
More than one in three women and parents who have recently given birth felt their baby’s safety and wellbeing was at risk during labour (38%), while nearly a quarter did not feel safe themselves during birth (22%).
NCT also asked about giving consent during labour. Around one in five women and people who had given birth said they:
- Did not feel listened to (23%) and weren’t given the information they needed by staff (20%)
- Did not feel able to make informed decisions (22%)
- Did not give consent for every decision that was made about their care (16%)
Becoming a new parent
NCT’s findings highlight significant gaps in consistent postnatal support. Nearly a quarter1 reported that they:
- Didn’t have a strong support network around them (22%)
- Didn’t have regular access to support from healthcare professionals (24%)
Without reliable postnatal support - and amidst a cost-of-living crisis – many parents face significant challenges. Increasingly complex births and recoveries are intensifying the need for timely postnatal care and follow-up.
At the same time, financial pressures mean many parents can feel compelled to return to work earlier than they would like, while reductions in health visiting and other community-based services have further limited access to support during the critical weeks and months after birth.
More than four in 10 parents told us that:
- Their relationship with their partner is suffering (41%)
- They are struggling more with their finances (48%)
Stark inequalities in maternity care
The research also highlights persistent inequalities. Black, Asian, and mixed-heritage women and parents were more likely than white parents to worry about the safety of their chosen place of birth and about how they would be treated by medical professionals.
Negative experiences during pregnancy also increased as household income decreased, pointing to economic barriers to accessing to safe, responsive, and respectful care.
LGBTQIA+ parents also reported poorer experiences. For example, more than three in ten bisexual parents (35%) said their individual circumstances were not considered during their or their partner’s pregnancy, compared with two in ten heterosexual parents (23%).
Parents say change is needed
NCT’s vision is for a maternity, neonatal and postnatal care system that is safe, personalised, and equitable, centred on the experiences of pregnant women and parents. Based on what parents told us, our report makes ten clear recommendations for change, including:
- Training, investment and recruitment to ensure safe staffing levels and working conditions
- Genuine choice in place of birth and care options
- A consistent commitment to informed consent and the protection of birth rights
- Guaranteeing a six-to-eight-week postnatal GP check for every woman or person who has given birth, with time to discuss physical and mental health
NCT Chief Executive Angela McConville said: “Every major report has shown that the UK’s maternity system is failing to provide safe, compassionate care. Through our work, we hear the stories of parents,every day, grounding the findings from our report in real experiences.
“Becoming a parent is rarely one-dimensional. It can be joyful, frightening, overwhelming and messy, often all at once, and that kaleidoscope of emotions is shaped profoundly by the care and support women and families receive.
“At one of the most vulnerable times in their lives, too many new parents tell us they feel unsafe, unsupported, and denied genuine choice. More than one in five women experience mental health challenges during pregnancy and after birth2, yet postnatal care is failing at a critical time when services should be providing continuity of care, localised support, unbiased information, and regular touchpoints for new parents from health visits to postnatal GP check-ups.
“This is the moment to listen to parents, and to the midwives and doctors working on the frontline under extreme pressure. Many have harrowing stories of the conditions they work in and the difficulties they face delivering even basic levels of care. Caring for our carers is essential to providing safe, resilient maternity services.
“We know outcomes and experiences improve when women and birthing people are trusted, listened to, given clear information, and cared for without discrimination. There are already solutions on the table that can make huge gains towards achieving this. Investment, staffing, training and accountability must be prioritised to ensure every parent can feel confident, supported and heard.”
Michelle Welsh MP, Member of Parliament for Sherwood Forest and Chair of the APPG on Maternity said:
“This deeply troubling research confirms what families and frontline staff have been telling us for years: too many parents are being left without a safety net at one of the most important and vulnerable times of their lives. Feeling overwhelmed, isolated or unsafe should never be considered a normal part of pregnancy, birth or early parenthood.
“As the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Maternity, I am particularly concerned by the scale of reported safety fears, the lack of informed consent, and the stark inequalities faced by Black, Asian, mixed-heritage and LGBTQIA+ parents, as well as those on lower incomes. These findings must be a wake-up call.
“We urgently need sustained investment in maternity and postnatal services, safe staffing levels, and guaranteed, high-quality follow-up care for every parent after birth. Listening to parents’ experiences and acting on clear, evidence-based recommendations like those from NCT are essential if we are to rebuild trust and ensure maternity care in this country is safe, compassionate and equitable for all.”
ENDS
About NCT, The National Childbirth Trust
NCT, (National Childbirth Trust) is the UK’s charity for pregnancy, parents, and progress. We’re here for every parent, to help them feel confident, connected and safe.
Every year we support thousands of parents across the UK on their journeys through pregnancy, birth, infant feeding, and early parenthood. We connect, inform and support parents through our antenatal and postnatal information, courses and services, bringing people together to share information and experiences of life as an expectant or new parent.
Report methodology
NCT’s report, ‘From expectation to reality: Parents’ experiences of pregnancy, birth, and life with a newborn’
The survey was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of NCT between 5th and 16th September 2025. It gathered responses from 2,010 parents of children under five, including 500 women and people who are currently pregnant.
