Midwifery care in the UK for older mothers

In many countries, care during pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period is often provided by a practising midwife. Despite specific risks associated with pregnancy in advanced maternal age, attention has shifted away from this group of women with regard to fetal screening and testing. This study aimed to explore the experiences of mothers aged 35 years and over during pregnancy and the perinatal period, as it is unclear whether their needs are currently being met by midwives. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected via an online survey tool between May and August 2012 and the study was advertised on the social networking site Twitter. Of the 397 mothers who completed the survey, many reported receiving good midwifery care, but others felt their care needs were not met or were offered inadequate support. Continuing education for midwives and professional leadership is needed, to support practitioners in developing skills essential to care for women.