Latest news with #newmothers
The Independent
6 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
The signs of postnatal depression to look out for
Up to 85,000 new mothers in England may have been impacted by postnatal depression last year, according to new analysis by the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych). The RCPsych warns that untreated postnatal depression, which affected almost 15 per cent of new mothers, can be 'truly devastating' and lead to the 'unnecessary' deaths of women and sometimes their babies. Maternal suicide is highlighted as the leading cause of death in women from six weeks to a year after birth. Symptoms can include persistent feelings of sadness, low mood, a lack of interest, trouble sleeping, and potentially thoughts of harming the baby. The RCPsych urges women and their partners to seek support for these treatable conditions, which can be managed with talking therapies or antidepressants, with medics assuring medication safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How the maternity system is failing self-employed women
Pregnancy isn't an easy ride. Exhaustion and sickness aside, expectant parents often find themselves doing mental gymnastics to work out how, or if, they'll afford to take maternity leave. For many, the financial stress and anxiety can take away from the excitement of having a baby, especially for those who are self-employed. In the UK, self-employed individuals receiving Maternity Allowance can get between £27 and £187.18 per week – less than half the amount typically needed to maintain a basic standard of living. Amid the cost of living crisis, record levels of inflation, high interest rates, rising costs of essentials and a fall in real-terms pay and benefits, new families are facing a perfect storm. Because of this, new mothers are going without meals. Many are forced to return to work earlier than planned, putting their mental and physical health at risk. Read more: Why the pressure to be liked at work is holding women back Maternity leave is far from "time off" from work. It's a critical period for recovery after pregnancy and birth. It allows parents to bond with their newborns, adjust to night feeds, cope with the hormonal and physical changes and navigate the many, complex emotional and social transitions that come with new parenthood. Yet for those who are self-employed or don't meet rigid eligibility criteria, this vital period comes with little to no financial support. UK mums have some of the lowest rates of maternity pay in Europe. Despite inflationary increases in April 2023, the basic rate of benefits remains close to destitution. For women who do not meet the strict eligibility criteria – often due to factors beyond their control – there is no maternity pay at all. Like statutory maternity pay for employees, maternity allowance is worth £187.18 a week. But one major difference is that the maternity allowance isn't topped up to 90 percent of earnings for the first six weeks. 'Also if a maternity allowance recipient is claiming universal credit, universal credit will treat the maternity allowance as unearned income and claw it back pound-for-pound, so effectively the claimant is no better off,' says Rhian Beynon, senior public affairs and communications officer at Maternity Action. 'By contrast, universal credit treats statutory maternity allowance as earned income.' Many new mums are forced to rely on their partner's income, which automatically excludes single parents. 'The whole maternity pay system is based on the assumption that a woman will have been employed and will be supported by another higher breadwinner partner,' says Beynon. Read more: Five soft skills that can help you get hired or promoted 'This is hopelessly out of kilter with the reality that many women are often the main or higher earner in their household, and/or are self-employed. The majority of women (97 percent) reported to our recent survey that they end up worrying about money on maternity leave and that this affects their health and wellbeing.' Self-employed women also face stricter limitations around maternity leave, particularly when it comes to KIT (keeping in touch) days. If you're receiving statutory maternity pay from an employer, you're allowed to carry on with any amount of self-employed work. However, you're limited to just 10 KIT days with that employer. For those receiving maternity allowance, the restrictions are tighter. You can only work up to 10 days in total, whether for an employer or in your self-employed role, without affecting your payments. These KIT days are designed to help women stay connected to their work, but according to research by IPSE, 25% of self-employed mothers said they needed more than 10 KIT days to sustain their business. If you exceed the 10-day limit, your maternity allowance will be stopped – and you'll lose payments for each additional day you work. And for many self-employed women, the fear of losing business leads them to head back to work earlier than they would like. Read more: How employers can prevent mental health crises at work 'I had a difficult pregnancy and birth but I ended up heading back to work after two months because I was worried I'd lose clients,' says Jemma*, a self-employed music teacher. 'Maternity allowance was barely enough to live on, and I never spend beyond my means. I ended up dealing with birth trauma, while trying to keep on teaching and looking after my son – it was impossible.' Olga Fitzroy, founder of Parental Pay Equality, says that self-employed parents continue to be overlooked due to a fundamental lack of understanding among MPs and policymakers. 'I had the experience of discussing the impact of a period away from a self-employed business for a self-employed mother with officials at the Department for Business, and there seemed to be surprise at the fact that shutting a business for a year might negatively impact it,' she says. Fitzroy points out that the structure of the civil service, and the backgrounds of many MPs, contributes to this disconnect. 'The civil service is clearly very different from the gig economy, and very few MPs come from self-employment. This may have an impact on their understanding of what life is like for self-employed people.' A long-delayed government review into parental leave is due to begin this summer, but so far there's been no commitment to addressing the specific needs of self-employed parents. Fitzroy notes that while a separate review into single worker status may offer limited improvements, it's unlikely to result in a one-size-fits-all solution. 'We need a tailored system that recognises the realities of self-employment and ensures self-employed parents aren't left behind.' Until the government recognises the unique challenges faced by self-employed families, maternity pay will remain unequal – and for many, unsustainable. Read more: Five questions you shouldn't be asked in a job interview How to manage 'time blindness' at work if you have ADHD Can body doubling make us more productive at work?Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How the maternity system is failing self-employed women
Pregnancy isn't an easy ride. Exhaustion and sickness aside, expectant parents often find themselves doing mental gymnastics to work out how, or if, they'll afford to take maternity leave. For many, the financial stress and anxiety can take away from the excitement of having a baby, especially for those who are self-employed. In the UK, self-employed individuals receiving Maternity Allowance can get between £27 and £187.18 per week – less than half the amount typically needed to maintain a basic standard of living. Amid the cost of living crisis, record levels of inflation, high interest rates, rising costs of essentials and a fall in real-terms pay and benefits, new families are facing a perfect storm. Because of this, new mothers are going without meals. Many are forced to return to work earlier than planned, putting their mental and physical health at risk. Read more: Why the pressure to be liked at work is holding women back Maternity leave is far from "time off" from work. It's a critical period for recovery after pregnancy and birth. It allows parents to bond with their newborns, adjust to night feeds, cope with the hormonal and physical changes and navigate the many, complex emotional and social transitions that come with new parenthood. Yet for those who are self-employed or don't meet rigid eligibility criteria, this vital period comes with little to no financial support. UK mums have some of the lowest rates of maternity pay in Europe. Despite inflationary increases in April 2023, the basic rate of benefits remains close to destitution. For women who do not meet the strict eligibility criteria – often due to factors beyond their control – there is no maternity pay at all. Like statutory maternity pay for employees, maternity allowance is worth £187.18 a week. But one major difference is that the maternity allowance isn't topped up to 90 percent of earnings for the first six weeks. 'Also if a maternity allowance recipient is claiming universal credit, universal credit will treat the maternity allowance as unearned income and claw it back pound-for-pound, so effectively the claimant is no better off,' says Rhian Beynon, senior public affairs and communications officer at Maternity Action. 'By contrast, universal credit treats statutory maternity allowance as earned income.' Many new mums are forced to rely on their partner's income, which automatically excludes single parents. 'The whole maternity pay system is based on the assumption that a woman will have been employed and will be supported by another higher breadwinner partner,' says Beynon. Read more: Five soft skills that can help you get hired or promoted 'This is hopelessly out of kilter with the reality that many women are often the main or higher earner in their household, and/or are self-employed. The majority of women (97 percent) reported to our recent survey that they end up worrying about money on maternity leave and that this affects their health and wellbeing.' Self-employed women also face stricter limitations around maternity leave, particularly when it comes to KIT (keeping in touch) days. If you're receiving statutory maternity pay from an employer, you're allowed to carry on with any amount of self-employed work. However, you're limited to just 10 KIT days with that employer. For those receiving maternity allowance, the restrictions are tighter. You can only work up to 10 days in total, whether for an employer or in your self-employed role, without affecting your payments. These KIT days are designed to help women stay connected to their work, but according to research by IPSE, 25% of self-employed mothers said they needed more than 10 KIT days to sustain their business. If you exceed the 10-day limit, your maternity allowance will be stopped – and you'll lose payments for each additional day you work. And for many self-employed women, the fear of losing business leads them to head back to work earlier than they would like. Read more: How employers can prevent mental health crises at work 'I had a difficult pregnancy and birth but I ended up heading back to work after two months because I was worried I'd lose clients,' says Jemma*, a self-employed music teacher. 'Maternity allowance was barely enough to live on, and I never spend beyond my means. I ended up dealing with birth trauma, while trying to keep on teaching and looking after my son – it was impossible.' Olga Fitzroy, founder of Parental Pay Equality, says that self-employed parents continue to be overlooked due to a fundamental lack of understanding among MPs and policymakers. 'I had the experience of discussing the impact of a period away from a self-employed business for a self-employed mother with officials at the Department for Business, and there seemed to be surprise at the fact that shutting a business for a year might negatively impact it,' she says. Fitzroy points out that the structure of the civil service, and the backgrounds of many MPs, contributes to this disconnect. 'The civil service is clearly very different from the gig economy, and very few MPs come from self-employment. This may have an impact on their understanding of what life is like for self-employed people.' A long-delayed government review into parental leave is due to begin this summer, but so far there's been no commitment to addressing the specific needs of self-employed parents. Fitzroy notes that while a separate review into single worker status may offer limited improvements, it's unlikely to result in a one-size-fits-all solution. 'We need a tailored system that recognises the realities of self-employment and ensures self-employed parents aren't left behind.' Until the government recognises the unique challenges faced by self-employed families, maternity pay will remain unequal – and for many, unsustainable. Read more: Five questions you shouldn't be asked in a job interview How to manage 'time blindness' at work if you have ADHD Can body doubling make us more productive at work?Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Israel's mental health crisis: The war's hidden toll on mothers and soldiers
Rehabilitating the Israeli psyche. A national plan is urgently needed. The ongoing war has exposed a disturbing reality that can no longer be ignored: Israel is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. The accumulating data paints a grim picture – a third of women report experiencing postpartum depression during the current war, alongside a sharp increase in PTSD cases among IDF soldiers. This was revealed in a recent study of 862 women in Israel. Simultaneously, research from Tel Aviv University indicates that approximately 12% of reserve soldiers report multiple PTSD symptoms – a dramatic rise compared to the 4%–6% observed during regular service, and more than double the 8% measured six months after discharge. These are not two separate crises but one national crisis that demands urgent, systemic attention. The connection between the distress of new mothers and that of soldiers is no coincidence. National trauma affects us all, but it especially harms vulnerable populations. The data is particularly alarming: 34% of women reported PTSD symptoms 62% suffer from war-related nightmares; 69% actively avoid war-related thoughts; 73% feel constantly on edge or easily startled; 40% feel disconnected from people and their surroundings; and 17% experience guilt related to the events of the war. Concurrently, reserve soldiers have been directly exposed to traumatic battlefield experiences. Common to both groups is a glaring lack of an adequate and tailored response from state systems. Now, it is buckling under the pressure. There is a shortage of mental health professionals, waiting times for treatment are increasing, and resources are scarce. The human cost of this neglect could be devastating – studies show that, without proper treatment, conditions like postpartum depression and PTSD can become chronic and may even affect future generations. What must the state do? First, it must recognize this as a national emergency requiring a comprehensive plan. Significant resources should be allocated to expand mental health services, with a focus on high-risk populations. More trauma care professionals must be recruited and trained, and dedicated treatment programs must be established. Second, barriers to treatment must be dismantled: reduce stigma, improve access, and ensure that treatment is free for those affected by the war. Responses must be tailored to the needs of different groups – for example, offering specialized treatment models for new mothers and for soldiers. Lastly, robust community support systems must be developed to serve as a safety net for those in need. Evidence shows that social support is a key protective factor in coping with trauma. The war will end someday, but its emotional scars may last for years. Investing in the mental health of our population is not a luxury – it is a strategic necessity for the resilience and future of Israeli society. The writer is chair of the Board of Directors at Benafshenu – The Israeli Center for Mental Health & Social Support, founded by Amcha. Sign up for the Health & Wellness newsletter >>
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Patty Gatter of The Breastfeeding Shop Shares Expertise On Insurance-Covered Breast Pumps for Expectant Mothers in HelloNation Magazine
EMMAUS, Pa., June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Are breast pumps covered by insurance, and what should new mothers know about the process? Patty Gatter of The Breastfeeding Shop in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, offers guidance in HelloNation Magazine, helping expecting mothers understand how to access this important benefit with confidence and ease. According to Gatter, most health insurance plans are now required to cover the cost of a breast pump under the Affordable Care Act. However, coverage details can vary—some plans may only include specific models or brands, while others might require a prescription or supporting documentation from a healthcare provider. To avoid delays, expecting mothers should contact their insurance carrier early in the process to confirm what is included under their plan. Gatter emphasizes the value of working with a supplier that handles insurance verification and simplifies selection. Trusted providers can help navigate eligibility, offer guidance on pump options, and ensure fast delivery. Choosing a supplier that provides responsive customer support and replacement parts when needed adds to a seamless and supportive experience. Access to an insurance-covered breast pump isn't just about convenience—it promotes healthy feeding routines, supports milk production, and helps new mothers transition back to work or daily responsibilities with greater flexibility. For families in the Emmaus area and beyond, understanding how to get a free breast pump through insurance removes one more stressor from an already busy and transformative time. To learn more, read the full article, What Expecting Mothers Should Know About Insurance-Covered Breast Pumps, in HelloNation Magazine. About HelloNationHelloNation is a premier media platform that connects readers with trusted professionals and businesses across various industries. Through its innovative 'edvertising' approach that blends educational content and storytelling, HelloNation delivers expert-driven articles that inform, inspire, and empower. Covering topics from home improvement and health to business strategy and lifestyle, HelloNation highlights leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities. Staff Writerinfo@ photo accompanying this announcement is available at in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
