Being a new mum is harder than ever, says Philips Avent research

Being a new mum is harder now than for any previous generation due to absent 'villages' and trying to balance motherhood with work, says research by Philips Avent and OnePoll.com

A poll of 2,000 mothers found 55 per cent of women aged 25-44 felt the role is harder today than it was in the past. 

Some 49 per cent felt they don’t have the village-like support of yesteryear. Meanwhile, 42 per cent of those with young children, aged 10 and below, don't have the support their own mums once did, and 62 per cent face new pressures from social media and surrounding peers.

Comparatively, 43 per cent of boomers said their time as a mum was ‘easy’, due to being able to stay at home and look after their little ones without working. Whereas 79 per cent of millennials struggle to balance work and motherhood. Almost all (95 per cent) mums reported feeling they shoulder most of the mental and emotional responsibility of parenting.

A third (33 per cent) of new mothers said they were overlooked since becoming a mum, realising this most acutely when their partner or family didn't notice the mental load they were carrying (59 per cent) and when their needs were treated as less important (49 per cent).

To help address this, a new campaign is calling on the village to step up and support mums without being asked.

Marci El-Deiry, spokesperson for Philips Avent, said: "While we celebrate every first smile and milestone for the baby, we don't always recognise the person learning one of life's biggest new roles.

“As a mum raising my sons, I've learned that parenting isn't something you figure out overnight. What made the biggest difference wasn't having all the answers but having people who showed up. That’s why this campaign and raising awareness of the need to share the care is so important, as I’ve heard my experience echoed in this research."

According to the data from OnePoll.com, 38 per cent struggle to ask for help due to feeling embarrassed to admit they're struggling and feeling they should be able to cope on their own. The research also found 85 per cent agree that small moments of acknowledgement would have a powerful impact on how they feel day to day.

When asked what these moments of acknowledgement would be, the top answers included reassurance they are doing a good job (37 per cent), help with household chores (35 per cent), and being checked in on as a person, not just as a mum (35 per cent).

Modern mums also wanted their village to stay present, offering to watch the baby so they can rest (39 per cent) and checking in regularly beyond the first few weeks (38 per cent).

To bring this message to life, Philips Avent has partnered with internationally renowned artist and mother Kelly Anna to create a mural now on display at Westfield White City London, which celebrates the moment a mother is born.

Speaking on her involvement in creating the mural, Kelly Anna said: "When I became a mother, I realised how isolating it can feel, and how impactful a simple moment of acknowledgement can be.

"When working on this piece, I didn't want to just recreate the emotive and widely recognised image of a mum giving birth; I wanted to create a call to action.

"Art has always been my way of creating connection, and I hope this mural reminds everyone in our community that mums should be equally supported as their baby.”