From expectation to reality: what 2,000 UK parents told NCT about pregnancy, birth and early parenthood

NCT has published a new report, From expectation to reality: Parents’ experiences of pregnancy, birth, and life with a newborn, bringing together the voices of 2,000 new and expectant parents across the UK, including 500 women and people who were pregnant at the time of the survey (Sept 2025).

With major national work underway, including the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation in England and the All-Wales Maternity and Neonatal Assurance Assessment, this report lands at a moment when lived experience should be shaping what comes next.

What parents are telling them

1) Pregnancy and antenatal care: worry, trust and being listened to

NCT’s survey found that many parents felt worried while pregnant. Among women and people who were pregnant at the time of the survey, around six in ten reported worries about:

whether the place they wanted to give birth was safe (56%)

how they would be treated by medical professionals (60%)

A significant minority also reported feeling dismissed during pregnancy, including:

23% who didn’t feel listened to or respected

20% who felt their concerns weren’t taken seriously

18% who didn’t feel consent was given for all decisions made during pregnancy

These are not “small” issues, they go directly to safety, trust, communication and consent.

2) Birth: many positive experiences, but persistent concerns

Most women and people who had given birth reported a positive experience (72%)  but this sits alongside widespread concerns about safety, choice and decision-making.

Nearly four in ten said they felt their baby’s wellbeing and safety were at risk during birth (38%) and 36% said they felt pressured into making decisions they did not want to make. Around one in five also felt they didn’t receive the information needed (20%) or weren’t able to make informed decisions (22%).

3) Postnatal: joy and overwhelm can exist together

Many parents said they enjoyed the early days with their baby (80%), while also describing intense strain in the first three months:

87% felt overwhelmed at least some of the time (including 22% who said they always felt overwhelmed)

62% experienced loneliness or isolation at least some of the time (including 12% who said they always felt lonely)

Feeding was also difficult for many families: 23% said they did not have a positive feeding experience, and 27% said feeding didn’t go as planned.

4) Inequalities: fear and poorer experiences aren’t evenly distributed

NCT’s report highlights persistent inequalities across maternity and postnatal care. Parents from Black, Asian and Mixed-Heritage backgrounds were more likely to worry about safety and treatment. The report also flags gaps in personalised care for LGBTQIA+ parents, and the impact of financial insecurity, including that 48% of parents said they were struggling more financially after having a baby.

What NCT is calling for

NCT’s report sets out ten recommendations, including safe staffing levels, genuine choice, listening cultures, language support, informed consent, postnatal checks, accessible feeding support, and earlier mental health support, as well as a call for free NHS antenatal education for every expectant parent.

What this means for maternity services (and why it matters for safety)

A consistent theme running through parents’ responses is that how care is delivered matters as much as what care is delivered: being listened to, taken seriously, supported to understand options, and treated with respect. When these foundations are shaky, families are more likely to feel unsafe, pressured, and unsure when it matters most.

How MAMA Academy resources can support families alongside this work

We share NCT’s focus on ensuring care is safe, equitable, personalised and responsive. While policy and service changes take time, parents still need clear, practical support right now, especially around communication, escalation and understanding what to do if something doesn’t feel right.

MAMA Academy resources that link directly to the themes raised in the report include:

MAMA Wellbeing Wallets + Pregnancy Passports – practical, parent-friendly prompts that support safer pregnancy conversations and help parents track questions, appointments and advice

Multilingual information (100+ languages) – supporting families who need information in a language they understand

Resources that encourage informed conversations – helping parents prepare questions and understand their options, particularly when plans change

Read the report and share your experience

We encourage parents and professionals to read NCT’s report in full and reflect on what needs to change locally and nationally. Listening to lived experience, including experiences of compassionate, safe care as well as harm and dismissal, is essential if improvements are going to be meaningful and sustained.

Read the full NCT report here and explore MAMA Academy’s parent resources on our website.