Better communication about labour and birth, along with more post-natal support, are among the issues raised by women in a new survey on maternity care.
The survey of over 3,300 women also showed high levels of respect and trust in their experience of maternity services.
The National Maternity Experience Survey was conducted by the Health Information and Quality Authority earlier this year.
Overall, 83% of participants rated their maternity care as 'good' or 'very good', while 17% of participants rated their maternity care as 'fair to poor'.
Most women said they felt treated with dignity and respect, and had confidence and trust in the healthcare professionals that cared for them.
Women said there was a need for better information on physical changes during pregnancy, support with feeding the baby at home and better communication between the maternity service and their GP.
Other areas for improvement highlighted were opportunities to ask questions about labour and birth and a healthcare professional to talk to about worries and fears after the birth.
The survey also found differences in women’s experiences depending on their socioeconomic background.
Women from disadvantaged areas were more likely to report positive post-natal care experiences at home or in the community, while women from affluent areas were more likely to feel involved in decisions during pregnancy and birth.
This is the second survey of its kind and the first was in 2020.
The survey involved 3,354 women and 19 hospitals.
