New mums feel pressured into getting back into shape and criticise celebrity mums who regain their figures within weeks as bad role models, a new study reveals today.
New mums feel pressured into getting back into shape and criticise celebrity mums who regain their figures within weeks as bad role models, a new study reveals today.
Nearly half of mothers questioned say that after giving birth, their main concern was to lose the weight they’d gained during pregnancy, according to the ‘Pregnancy Pressure’ study from Norwich Union Healthcare.
The study also reveals how new mums feel societal pressure to shed the extra pounds once their baby had arrived - with more than a quarter (28%) admitting so. And more than four in five (85%) think that famous mums such as Liz Hurley, who make it look easy to regain their shape, are sending out the wrong message to women.
Commenting on the findings, consultant obstetrician Dr Yehudi Gordon says: "There are a lot of pressures on women having a baby, these pressures are highlighted by the media, however the Norwich Union Healthcare study also shows that women are concerned by many aspects including nausea and depression as well as getting back in to shape.
"Celebrity mums have a vested interest in getting back to shape because their public image is all important. But what new mothers must realise is that these celebrities have taken time off to spend each day actively pursuing the result they want with the help of a team of experts from nannies to personal trainers and dieticians. Most real women on the other hand can’t afford to take out such time or the luxury of a team of helpers."
The study amongst 500 pregnant women and new mums, also reveals that more than a quarter (27%) say they’d feel like a failure if they weren’t able to give birth naturally.
And, thanks partly to the number of high-profile mothers such as Victoria Beckham who are having ‘scheduled births’, half of those questioned think that women should have the right to decide to have an elective caesarean.
But nearly three in five (58%) think those women who choose to have a caesarean without medical reason to do so, should have to pay for the procedure.
The Norwich Union Healthcare Pregnancy Pressure study also found:
- ‘Big Mutha’ Davina McCall was voted the most admired celebrity mother (30%), but a fifth (21%) of those polled aren’t impressed by any celebrity mothers
- Weight gain preoccupies women throughout their pregnancy – while nearly a quarter (22%) of new mums say the best thing about being pregnant was that they could eat what they liked, 13% say the worst thing about it was feeling fat.
- 21% fear they’ll never regain their pre-birth shape now they’ve had a baby
- A fifth of pregnant women say they have no faith in hospital services when it comes to the birth of their baby
- Pain prevention (62%) and fitting the birth into a busy schedule (35%) are cited as the main reasons more women are having elective caesareans – 12% say it’s because people think it helps with quicker weight loss post birth
Norwich Union Healthcare has produced a free Pregnancy Pressure guide, to help women who are either trying to get pregnant, are pregnant or are new mothers and aims to be a reference point offering advice and information directing them to the most helpful resources, websites and organisations.
Dr Doug Wright, clinical development manager at Norwich Union Healthcare, said: "Women face all sorts of pressures both during their pregnancy and after the birth of their child. We hope our Pregnancy Pressure guide will provide another avenue of support, as well as being a useful directory, for them during this time."
For a copy of our Pregnancy Pressure guide please call Norwich Union Healthcare on 02380 354 728 or e-mail: request@norwich-union.co.uk.
Pregnant women can also access the health insurers online Personal Health Manager service at www.personalhealthmanager.co.uk, that includes comprehensive health and medical information. It includes an interactive symptoms assessor which tells women if they need to see their GP or can use home remedies, as well as a health planner for personal health recommendations and a medical encyclopaedia. /mfs
The company also provides a 24 hour GP Helpline for its customers, which works alongside the online service, meaning that women who have had an assessment can follow it up without having to go through all the symptoms again.*
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Media contacts:
Jo Misson or Charlotte Ruddlesdin, QBO Bell Pottinger on 020 7861 2424.
Norwich Union Press Office contacts:
James Evans 01904 452791 Out of hours 07790 487105
Lorna Wiltshire 01904 723236 Out of hours 07788 471849
Louise Soulsby 01904 452617 Out of hours 07810 057362
David Gwyer 01904 452828 Out of hours 07800 699508
Rob Pell 01904 452659 Out of hours 07968 934091
Notes to editors:
* Non customers are eligible for one month’s free trial of the Personal Health Manager but the 24 hour GP helpline and stress helpline is not part of this trial.
About the research
- Consumer research was by commissioned by Norwich Union, and undertaken by Opinion Leader Research amongst 500 pregnant women and new mums during May 2004.
About Norwich Union Healthcare
- Norwich Union Healthcare was founded in 1990 as the healthcare arm of Norwich Union and now provides a range of income protection and private medical insurance products that cover over 750,000 lives. It is one of the largest providers of income protection and private medical insurance in the UK.
- Norwich Union Healthcare is a member of the General Insurance Standards Council, the Association of British Insurers and the Financial Ombudsman Service.
- Norwich Union’s news releases and a selection of images are available from Aviva’s internet press centre at www.aviva.com/media