Research and publications
What our research found
14.6
minutes
Average length of the six-week postnatal check
79%
raised concerns about their physical or mental health
25%
offered follow-up
among women who raised concerns
OnePoll survey of 500 UK women, February 2026.
Recovery doesn't end at six weeks.
Neither should care.
Physical recovery, pelvic health and mental wellbeing don't follow a six-week timetable. Pregnancy and childbirth can also have implications for a woman's health long after birth.
Yet too often, women are left to navigate recovery alone, without clear guidance, coordinated care or meaningful follow-up.
Our research calls for a more continuous, integrated and preventative approach to postnatal healthcare — one that recognises childbirth as a critical opportunity to support women's lifelong health.
"Pregnancy and birth are among the most closely monitored periods in a woman's life. But after birth support becomes fragmented, and recovery does not suddenly end at six weeks."
Dr Sujitha Selvarajah
Practising NHS Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
and Co-founder, Hesta Health
What the experts say
Professor Ranee Thakar
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, pelvic health specialist and former President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG)
"What we are doing is a tick box at six weeks. Tick, tick, tick — and that's it. You forget. And then women actually get completely lost."
Maria Elliott
Women's Health Physiotherapist and Founder of The Mummy MOT
"The six-week check is not enough because you can't even assess properly at that point."
About the research
Commissioned by Hesta Health, the report combines nationally representative polling conducted by OnePoll between 23–26 February 2026 among 500 UK women who had given birth within the previous two years, with expert clinical contributions and women's lived experiences.
Contributors include Professor Ranee Thakar, Dr Rebecca Moore, consultant perinatal psychiatrist and co-founder Make Birth Better; Maria Elliott, founder of The Mummy MOT; Dr Anita Coutinho, women's health GP; Katie Robertson, perinatal psychotherapist; and Tinuke Awe, co-founder of Five X More.
For journalists and media
Read the official research announcement, including key findings, expert commentary and media contact information.