If you’re new here, hello and welcome 👋 I’m Mari-Carmen, a nurse, women’s health specialist, and mum of three. This week, I’m diving into our partnership with Warwick University and the exciting research we’re carrying out to drive real, meaningful change in maternal health.
We all know the maternal health picture in the UK isn’t where it needs to be. Some of you may know the recent start of the maternal health inquiry. Outcomes for mothers in pregnancy and postnatally are falling short, and while the government says it’s committed to change… we need action grounded in evidence, innovation and support that actually works for mothers.
Now, if you’re a business owner in the innovation space, you’ll know the rollercoaster that is R&D funding. It’s relentless. 🙃 Innovate UK grants are brilliant when you get them, but incredibly competitive. We applied for a big SBRI women’s health grant last year and didn’t get it.
Here’s the catch-22: to win the big pots of funding, you need solid research showing the market need. But to fund the research that proves the need… You need funding. You can imagine how slightly frustrating that cycle becomes!
So, when Creative Futures at 1 Mill Street awarded us a smaller research grant, I was over the moon 🎉 This allowed us to kick-start things properly. After months of refining research objectives and gaining ethics approval… we are officially LIVE.
So what’s the research all about?
If you’re a mum in the UK, chances are your maternity experience looked different depending on where you gave birth. With my first two babies, I had the trusty purple maternity notes book. With my youngest (now two), everything moved to the Badger app. I assumed this was the standard across England… but it turns out, not quite.
Badger was a step in the right direction, blood results and notes in one place, but there were still gaps, fragmentation, and limited support. The intention behind digital maternity notes is spot on. Give mothers and healthcare teams shared access, consistent information, and continuity of care, especially when mothers move between trusts. But the reality? We’re not there yet. Even 8+ years after I heard early whispers of digital transition while working in the NHS, the system still hasn’t fully caught up.
This research is designed to explore the effectiveness of digital health interventions in improving maternal health and well-being because mothers deserve preventative, personalised care and timely support, in one connected place.
I know the gap exists, and every mother knows the gap exists. But to drive change, secure innovation funding, and build technology that genuinely works for women and families, we need the evidence to show it.
The findings from this research will shape and strengthen Matresa, helping us build, iterate, and ultimately scale solutions that support mothers from pregnancy through postpartum. And yes, it will also unlock the pathway to those bigger research grants so we can truly transform the maternal health landscape in the UK.
So why now?
We know that maternity provisions in the UK are under increasing pressure, as I explored in the previous newsletter. The need for urgent change is real. But let’s be clear, this isn’t just a series of isolated issues. It’s a systemic problem that ripples out beyond individual mothers, affecting businesses, the workforce, and the national economy.
Here are some striking facts:
Up to 74,000 women each year in the UK lose their jobs because they are pregnant, on maternity leave, or returning from maternity, a 37 % increase since 2016.
Research shows that fewer than one-fifth of all new mothers and only 44% of mothers who were working full-time before childbirth are back in full-time employment three years later.
Mothers frequently face what’s called the “motherhood penalty”, long-term reductions in earnings, promotions, and career progression simply because they become a parent.
So here’s what that means, in practical terms:
For the mother – when she doesn’t receive consistent, personalised support during pregnancy and the postnatal period, it can affect her health, wellbeing, confidence, and ability to stay in work or return to it effectively.
For the business – essential talent is lost or under-utilised. Mothers who might have stayed become sidelined or leave; teams lose continuity; organisations may face higher recruitment/training costs and lose diversity of thought and experience.
For the broader economy – when thousands of women leave the workforce or downshift their roles every year, that’s a loss of productivity, growth and innovation. It means fewer people contributing to the tax base, more dependency on social support, and less full utilisation of skills and potential.
We’re diving deep into mothers’ real experiences during pregnancy and the postnatal period, specifically around their health, well-being, and the support they did (or didn’t!) receive. We’ve created a survey through Prolific that asks mums a series of questions about their journey, and for those who feel comfortable, we’re also conducting interviews to gather richer, real-life qualitative insights. We’re intentionally reaching mums from different backgrounds, locations and communities through mother and baby networks to make sure this research reflects a diverse range of voices, not just one type of experience.
If you would like to contribute to the research and complete the survey follow this link here
Our fundraise is open and we’re proud to already have a lead investor committed. If you believe in creating a future where equitable, preventative maternal healthcare is the norm, not the exception, I’d love to speak with you.
👉 Book a call with me here and join us as we build something truly special and impactful.
🌸 Community Spotlight: Your Win of the Week
“I had my six week check this week and thanks to the information from Mari-Carmen I was able to self advocate at my appointment” - Emma
Motherhood is full of challenges, but also little victories worth celebrating. We’d love to shine a light on you and your wins, whether it’s finally getting a full night’s sleep, finishing that work project while juggling nap times, or just remembering where you left your coffee. ☕✨
👉 Hit reply and share your “win of the week.” We’ll feature a few in next week’s newsletter so we can cheer each other on.
Because every win, no matter how small, deserves to be celebrated. 💪💖
Maternal health isn’t just a “women’s issue”; it’s everyone’s responsibility, and real change happens when we come together. If you are a mum who fits our criteria, or you know someone who does, please take a moment to complete and share the survey. Your voice truly matters, and we would be so grateful to hear from you. Together, we can build the future mothers deserve. 💛
Mari-Carmen
Founder of Matresa- Building equitable, preventive maternal healthcare for all.