Having a baby in Scotland 2013: Women's experiences of maternity care
Results from Scotland’s Maternity Care Survey
Appendix 2 - Comparisons of Scottish results with English results
The following tables provide comparable figures from the Scottish and English maternity care surveys.
Care should be taken when comparing results, as not every difference between the two sets of results will be statistically significant. A general guide would be that differences of 5 percentage points or more are likely to be statistically significant.
Women who responded to the questionnaire
Table 36: Description of survey respondents
Question: What was your age on your last birthday? | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |||
Under 24 | 15% | 11% | ||
25-34 | 57% | 58% | ||
Over 35 | 28% | 31% | ||
Question: Have you had a previous pregnancy? | ||||
Scotland | England | |||
Yes | 58% | 59% | ||
No | 42% | 41% | ||
Question: How many babies have you given birth to before this pregnancy? | ||||
Scotland | England | |||
None | 12% | 13% | ||
1-2 | 80% | 79% | ||
3 or more | 8% | 9% |
Question: Did you give birth to a single baby, twins or more in your most recent pregnancy? | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |||
Single baby | 99% | 98% | ||
Twins | 1% | 2% | ||
Triplets, quads or more | 0% | 0% | ||
Question: What time was your baby* born? | ||||
Scotland | England | |||
Early morning (24.01-6.00) | 23% | 25% | ||
Morning (6:01 -12:00) | 30% | 27% | ||
Afternoon (12:01-18.00) | 25% | 25% | ||
Evening/Night (18.00-24.00) | 22% | 23% | ||
Question: Roughly how many weeks pregnant were you when your baby was born? | ||||
Scotland | England | |||
Before 37 weeks | 7% | 7% | ||
37 weeks or more | 93% | 93% |
Antenatal care
Table 38: Early access to maternity care
Question: Roughly how many weeks pregnant were you when you first saw a health professional about your pregnancy care? | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |||
0 to 6 weeks | 58% | 53% | ||
7 to 12 weeks | 38% | 44% | ||
13 or more weeks | 4% | 4% | ||
Question: Roughly how many weeks pregnant were you when you had your booking appointment? | ||||
Scotland | England | |||
0 to 7 weeks | 16% | 18% | ||
8 or 9 weeks | 35% | 42% | ||
10 or 11 weeks | 19% | 22% | ||
12 weeks | 18% | 11% | ||
13 or more weeks | 13% | 8% |
Table 39: First health professional seen by pregnant women
Question: Who was the first health professional you saw when you thought you were pregnant? | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |||
GP / family doctor | 60% | 63% | ||
Midwife | 35% | 32% | ||
Other | 5% | 5% |
Table 40: Accessibility of maternity services
Question: During your pregnancy were you given a choice about where your antenatal check-ups would take place? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes | 21% | 28% |
No | 79% | 72% |
Question: During your pregnancy, did you have a telephone number for a midwife or midwifery team that you could contact? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes | 99% | 97% |
No | 1% | 3% |
Question: If you contacted a midwife or the midwifery team, were you given the help you needed? | ||
Scotland | England* | |
Yes, always | 82% | 74% |
Yes, sometimes | 16% | 20% |
No | 2% | 3% |
*The English Survey also had the option "No, as I was not able to contact a midwife", which accounted for 4%.
Table 41: Continuity of care in antenatal care
Question: Which of the following health professionals did you see for your antenatal check-ups? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Midwife | 98% | 98% |
GP (family doctor) | 12% | 18% |
Hospital doctor (e.g. a consultant) | 37% | 42% |
Other | 1% | 2% |
Table 42: Choices where to have your baby
Question: Did you get enough information from either a midwife or doctor to help you decide where to have your baby? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes, definitely | 56% | 55% |
Yes, to some extent | 26% | 29% |
No | 18% | 16% |
Question: Were you offered any of the following choices about where to have your baby? | ||
Scotland | England | |
A choice of hospitals | 41% | 60% |
A choice of giving birth in a midwife led unit or birth centre | 23% | 35% |
A choice of giving birth in a consultant led unit | 12% | 16% |
A choice of giving birth at home | 25% | 38% |
I was not offered any choices | 25% | 18% |
I had no choices due to medical reasons* | 13% | - |
Question: Before your baby was born, did you plan to have a home birth? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes | 2% | 4% |
No | 98% | 96% |
*The English Survey did not have this option in their questionnaire.
Table 43: Involvement in decision making for your antenatal care
Question: Thinking about your antenatal care, were you involved enough in decisions about your care? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 78% | 77% |
Yes, sometimes | 18% | 19% |
No | 4% | 4% |
I did not want / need to be involved* | 1% | - |
*The English Survey did not have this option in their questionnaire.
Table 44: Communication in antenatal care
Question: Thinking about your antenatal care, were you spoken to in way that you could understand? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 88% | 88% |
Yes, sometimes | 10% | 11% |
No | 1% | 1% |
Table 45: Listened to and given enough time to ask questions
Question: During your antenatal check-ups, were you listened to? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 82% | 79% |
Yes, sometimes | 17% | 19% |
No | 2% | 2% |
Question: During your antenatal check-ups, were you given enough time to ask questions or discuss your pregnancy? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 82% | 74% |
Yes, sometimes | 16% | 22% |
No | 2% | 4% |
The birth of your baby: section C6 to (Intrapartum care)
Table 46: Support for normal birth
Question: During your labour, were you able to move around and choose the position that made you most comfortable? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes, most of the time | 74% | 71% |
Yes, sometimes | 20% | 21% |
No, not at all | 6% | 8% |
Table 47: Pain relief in labour and birth
Question: During your pregnancy what type of pain relief did you plan to use when giving birth? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Natural methods | 33% | 34% |
Water or a birthing pool | 34% | 34% |
TENS machine | 18% | 20% |
Gas and air | 76% | 75% |
Injection of pethidine or similar painkiller | 22% | 21% |
Epidural | 22% | 23% |
Other* | 1% | - |
I did not want to use pain relief | 5% | 6% |
I had not decided | 10% | 9% |
Question: Did the pain relief you used change from what you had originally planned? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes | 52% | 52% |
No | 48% | 48% |
Question: Why did you not use the choice of pain relief that you had originally planned to? | ||
Scotland | England** | |
For medical reasons | 38% | 31% |
I changed my mind | 18% | 16% |
I did not need to use this pain relief | 8% | 9% |
There was not time to use my planned pain relief | 26% | 25% |
This pain relief did not work | 18% | 17% |
I was not told why I could not have my choice of pain relief | 6% | 4% |
*The English Survey did not have this option in their questionnaire; **The England Survey also had the options "I was told there were not enough staff to provide my chosen pain relief" (4%) and other (14%).
Question: Thinking about the birth of your baby, what type of delivery did you have? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
A normal vaginal delivery | 56% | 60% |
An assisted vaginal delivery (forceps or ventouse) | 14% | 14% |
A planned caesarean delivery | 13% | 11% |
An emergency caesarean delivery | 17% | 15% |
Table 49: Where did you give birth?
Question: Where did you give birth? | ||
Scotland | England | |
On a bed | 88% | 85% |
On a mat on the floor | 2% | 5% |
In a water or birthing pool | 6% | 8% |
Other | 4% | 2% |
Table 50: What position were you in when your baby was born?
Question: What position were you in when your baby was born? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Sitting / sitting supported by pillows | 19% | 18% |
On my side | 7% | 5% |
Standing, squatting or kneeling | 14% | 16% |
Lying flat / lying supported by pillows | 26% | 26% |
Lying with legs in stirrups | 31% | 32% |
Other | 3% | 3% |
Table 51: Skin to skin contact shortly after birth
Question: Did you have skin to skin contact with your baby shortly after birth? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes | 90% | 90% |
Yes, but I did not want this | 1% | 1% |
No | 9% | 10% |
Table 52: Trust and confidence in staff
Question: Did you have confidence and trust in the staff caring for you during your labour and birth? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes, definitely | 83% | 78% |
Yes, to some extent | 15% | 19% |
No | 2% | 3% |
Question: Were you (and/or your partner or a companion) left alone by midwives or doctors at a time when it worried you? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes, during early labour | 10% | 13% |
Yes, during the later stages of labour | 7% | 9% |
Yes, during the birth | 1% | 2% |
Yes, shortly after the birth | 6% | 9% |
No, not at all | 80% | 75% |
Question: If you raised a concern during labour and birth, did you feel that it was taken seriously? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes | 84% | 81% |
No | 16% | 19% |
Question: Did the staff caring for you introduce themselves? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes, all of the staff introduced themselves | 81% | 83% |
Some of the staff introduced themselves | 17% | 16% |
Very few or none of the staff introduced themselves | 2% | 2% |
Question: Thinking about your care during labour and birth, were you treated with respect and dignity? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 88% | 85% |
Yes, sometimes | 10% | 12% |
No | 2% | 3% |
Table 54: Advice and support from midwives at hospital
Question: At the very start of your labour, did you feel that you were given appropriate advice and support when you contacted a midwife or the hospital? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes | 85% | 85% |
No | 15% | 15% |
Question: Thinking about your care during labour and birth, were you spoken to in a way you could understand? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 89% | 87% |
Yes, sometimes | 9% | 12% |
No | 1% | 2% |
Question: Thinking about your care during labour and birth, were you involved enough in decisions about your care? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 78% | 74% |
Yes, sometimes | 17% | 21% |
No | 5% | 5% |
Question: If your partner or someone else close to you was involved in your care during labour and birth, were they able to be involved as much as they wanted? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes | 95% | 95% |
No | 5% | 5% |
Postnatal care
Question: How long did you stay in hospital after your baby was born? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Up to 12 hours | 11% | 17% |
More than 12 hours but less than 24 hours | 16% | 19% |
1 to 2 days | 36% | 37% |
3 to 4 days | 25% | 18% |
5 or more days | 12% | 9% |
Question: Looking back, do you feel that the length of your stay in hospital after the birth was... | ||
Scotland | England | |
About right | 77% | 72% |
Too long | 14% | 16% |
Too short | 10% | 12% |
Table 56: Care, information and advice in hospital after the birth
Question: Thinking about the care you received in hospital after the birth of your baby, were you given the information or explanations you needed? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 61% | 59% |
Yes, sometimes | 30% | 30% |
No | 9% | 11% |
Question: Thinking about the care you received in hospital after the birth of your baby, were you treated with kindness and understanding? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 67% | 66% |
Yes, sometimes | 28% | 28% |
No | 5% | 6% |
Table 57: Hospital environment
Question: Thinking about your stay in hospital, how clean was the hospital room or ward you were in? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Very clean | 69% | 63% |
Fairly clean | 28% | 32% |
Not very clean | 2% | 3% |
Not at all clean | 1% | 1% |
Question: Thinking about your stay in hospital, how clean were the toilets and bathrooms you used? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Very clean | 60% | 52% |
Fairly clean | 34% | 38% |
Not very clean | 5% | 7% |
Not at all clean | 2% | 2% |
Feeding your baby
Table 58: Antenatal information about infant feeding
Question: During your pregnancy did midwives or the midwifery team provide relevant information about feeding your baby? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes, definitely | 68% | 61% |
Yes, to some extent | 26% | 30% |
No | 5% | 10% |
Question: In the first few days after the birth how was your baby fed? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Breast milk (or expressed breast milk) only | 49% | 59% |
Both breast and formula (bottle) milk | 21% | 21% |
Formula (bottle) milk only | 30% | 20% |
Other* | 1% | - |
Not sure* | <0.5% | - |
Question: Did you ever put your baby to the breast (even if it was only once)? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes | 23% | 26% |
No | 77% | 74% |
*The English Survey did not have this option in their questionnaire.
Table 60: Were your feeding decisions respected by staff?
Question: Were your decisions about how you wanted to feed your baby respected by staff?* | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 82% | 81% |
Yes, sometimes | 15% | 15% |
No | 3% | 4% |
Question: Did you feel that midwives and other health professionals gave you active support and encouragement about feeding your baby? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 63% | 61% |
Yes, sometimes | 26% | 28% |
No | 11% | 11% |
Question: Did you feel that midwives and other health professionals gave you consistent advice about feeding your baby?** | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 57% | 54% |
Yes, sometimes | 27% | 26% |
No | 16% | 18% |
*The English Survey worded this question slightly different: "Were your decisions about how you wanted to feed your baby respected by midwifes?"; ** The English Survey also had an option "I did not receive any advice" (2%).
Care at home after birth
Table 61: Postnatal care by midwife/midwifery team
Question: Since your baby's birth have you been visited at home by a midwife? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes | 97% | 95% |
Yes, but I had to contact them to ask them to visit | 1% | 2% |
No, I visited the midwife or saw a midwife in a clinic | <0.5% | 1% |
No, I was not offered a visit | <0.5% | <0.5% |
No, I was visiting or staying near my baby in a neonatal unit (NNU, NICU, SCBU) | 1% | 1% |
No, for another reason | <0.5% | <0.5% |
Question: How many times in total did you see a midwife after you went home? | ||
Scotland | England | |
1 to 2 | 9% | 25% |
3 to 4 | 50% | 53% |
5 to 6 | 26% | 16% |
7 times or more | 14% | 6% |
Table 62: How often would you have liked to see a midwife?
Question: Would you have liked to have seen a midwife... | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
More often | 16% | 21% |
Less often | 3% | 4% |
I saw a midwife as much as I wanted | 81% | 75% |
Table 63: Accessibility of services at home following the birth of a baby
Question: When you were at home after the birth of your baby, did you have a telephone number for a midwife or midwifery team that you could contact? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes | 98% | 97% |
No | 2% | 3% |
Question: If you contacted a midwife or midwifery team were you given the help you needed? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 86% | 77% |
Yes, sometimes | 10% | 18% |
No | 2% | 3% |
No as I was not able to contact a midwife | 2% | 2% |
Question: Did you feel that the midwife or midwives that you saw always listened to you? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 78% | 76% |
Yes, sometimes | 19% | 20% |
No | 3% | 3% |
Question: Did the midwife or midwives that you saw take your personal circumstances into account when giving you advice? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 78% | 74% |
Yes, sometimes | 19% | 22% |
No | 3% | 4% |
Table 65: Advice and support from midwifes/heath visitors about women's health after the birth of their baby
Question: Did a midwife or health visitor ask you how you were feeling emotionally? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes | 96% | 96% |
No | 4% | 4% |
Question: Were you given enough information about your own recovery after the birth? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes, definitely | 64% | 61% |
Yes, to some extent | 28% | 30% |
No | 8% | 9% |
Question: Did a midwife tell you that you would need to arrange a postnatal check-up of your own health? (Around 4-8 weeks after the birth) | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes | 93% | 91% |
No | 7% | 9% |
Table 66: Confidence and trust in midwives/midwifery team after going home
Question: Did you have confidence and trust in the midwives and midwifery team you saw after going home?* | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes, always | 78% | 71% |
Yes, sometimes | 19% | 25% |
No | 3% | 3% |
*The scale for this question was worded differently in the English survey: "Yes, definitely", "Yes, to some extent", and "No".
Table 67: Help and advice in the six weeks after the birth
Question: In the six weeks after the birth of your baby did you receive help and advice from a midwife or health visitor about feeding your baby? | ||
---|---|---|
Scotland | England | |
Yes, definitely | 67% | 63% |
Yes, to some extent | 26% | 27% |
No | 7% | 11% |
Question: In the six weeks after the birth of your baby did you receive help and advice from health professionals about your baby's health and progress? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes, definitely | 78% | 70% |
Yes, to some extent | 20% | 25% |
No | 2% | 5% |
Question: Were you given enough information about any emotional changes you might experience after the birth? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes, definitely | 59% | 56% |
Yes, to some extent | 30% | 30% |
No | 11% | 14% |
Question: Were you given information or offered advice from a health professional about contraception? | ||
Scotland | England | |
Yes | 92% | 90% |
No | 8% | 10% |
Contact
Email: Sophie David
There is a problem
Thanks for your feedback