This is the first population-based study to link family
court records to maternity and other health data
relating to birth mothers in care proceedings in
Wales. Our findings highlight the vulnerabilities of
women whose babies are subject to care
proceedings in the first year of life, including the very
high proportion with significant prior mental health
conditions at or before attending antenatal care. The
findings support the Welsh government’s current
policy of investing in mental health perinatal services,
and suggest that mental health should be given
greater priority in all children’s social care pre-birth
assessments. In addition, they highlight that more
needs to be done to address maternal substance use
and smoking during pregnancy.