Two interventions for postnatal support

This study reports detailed findings from the two interventions from a randomized, controlled trial of postnatal support, these being an invitation for a support group, and a reading pack designed for women postnatally. Women who attended once were likely to return and topics at the groups were primarily women-centred; they were also more likely to be middle class. Non-attenders reported finding the group location and/or timing inconvenient and some reported social diffidence about turning up. Women reported reading the ‘pack’ a number of times and had clear views about the sections that they found most help, many liking the women-centred topics. Support initiatives are helpful to some women; more could be done in future to tailor the initiatives to women especially those who may find ‘joining in’ difficult.