NCT comment on the First 1000 Days of Life report

“We welcome the recognition of the critical importance of the first 1000 days of life for long-term outcomes, which is at the very heart of our charity’s work supporting parents through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. We strongly support the recommendation of improved links between health professionals and continuity of care so that women see the same midwife or health visitor each time, as we know this results in better outcomes for mothers and children, including a reduced risk of premature birth. This joined-up and consistent model of care is particularly important in the postnatal period, when mothers are coping with physical recovery and emotional challenges as well as caring for a newborn: it’s crucial that improvements are made, as advised by the NHS England Expert Reference Group on postnatal care. We’re also very pleased that the report highlights the significant impact of parents’ mental health on their children. This is one of the reasons why our #HiddenHalf campaign is calling for better diagnosis and treatment of maternal mental health issues.  We hope the Government will act on the recommendations in the report to ensure that all parents are supported to give their child the best possible start in life.”