Beyond the Six-Week Check: Rethinking Maternal Wellbeing with Dr. Maia Hayes

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In this episode, Dr. Mariam Pereira sits down with Dr. Maia Hayes, a postnatal health coach and GMC-registered doctor, to pull back the curtain on the often-neglected world of postnatal care. Dr. Maia shares her deeply personal experience navigating a traumatic birth and undiagnosed postnatal depression, illustrating the ‘invisible gaps’ that even medical professionals fall through. The conversation explores the limitations of the standard six-week check, the toxic ‘bounce back’ culture, and the systemic shifts needed, from better GP screening tools like the ‘Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale’ to workplace flexibility, to truly support new mothers.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Even doctors can struggle to be heard by the healthcare system; Dr. Maia’s symptoms were repeatedly dismissed as ‘normal’ despite her clinical background.

Current postnatal checks often focus almost exclusively on the baby’s health or contraception, frequently neglecting the mother’s mental health and physical recovery (e.g., pelvic floor issues).

Up to 50% of postnatal depression cases are missed by GPs due to time constraints, stigma, and the inconsistent use of validated tools like the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

Society places immense pressure on mothers to return to their pre-pregnancy bodies and productivity levels, ignoring the fact that physical and hormonal recovery is a non-linear process that requires significant time and support.

Roughly 19% of women leave the workforce within three years of having a child, often due to a lack of flexibility and support, highlighting the need for employers to view postnatal care as a professional necessity.

BEST MOMENTS

"It is about the system telling you you're failing, when in fact, it's failing you."