Parenting charity the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) warned that support for new mothers is lacking because of public spending cuts and the breakdown of traditional support networks.
An NCT commissioned survey of 1,000 mothers, whose eldest children are under five years old, found that new mothers are often not able to draw on support from family and friends. Almost a third of those surveyed said they were living more than 40 miles away from their close family when they had their first baby, and a quarter didn't know any other parents in their local area.
The NCT has also aired concerns that the closure of local services such as Sure Start children's centres will make it even harder for mothers to find local support and friendship.
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