New mothers in England are not getting life-saving advice about symptoms that could indicate threats to themselves or their babies, it was claimed today.
A survey of mothers found that just 24% reported receiving this information after giving birth.
Among symptoms women should be warned of is a racing pulse that can indicate excessive bleeding.
The findings were among those of a new report from the Royal College of Midwives on post-natal care.
The college has been campaigning for more investment in post-natal care.
Its latest report says 65% of midwives said the number of post-natal visits to a woman was determined by "organisational pressures" rather than women’s needs.
The report says providers of maternity care should have enough maternity staff to ensure women get this vital information about their safety and that of their baby.
The college says there are at least two dozen symptoms that women should know about.
And, it says, midwives should be trusted to make clinical decisions about how many post-natal visits a woman needs.
Some 486 women took part in the survey conducted through a mothers’ social network.
College chief executive Cathy Warwick said: “It is clear that our members are taking the strain of an underfunded and under resourced postnatal service, a service that without sufficient means can lead to harmful consequences on the health of mothers and children that the maternity team struggle to care for."
The report found widespread backing today.
Marylyn Haines Evans, of the National Federation of Womens Institutes, said its own research among women highlighted similar concerns.
She said: "This report paints another disappointing and worrying picture of the state of postnatal care. This area remains a cause of concern and these findings clearly demonstrate that there is still significant room for improvement."
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