Maternity experiences and perinatal outcomes of mothers separated from their babies due to social care proceedings (MUMS@RISC study)
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Adopted October 2022 — completed September 2025
Maternity experiences and perinatal outcomes of mothers separated from their babies due to social care proceedings (MUMS@RISC study)
The MUMS@RISC study aimed to investigate characteristics, outcomes and experiences of mothers in contact with children’s social care during or after pregnancy.
The first 1,001 days are critical for a child’s development and wellbeing. Children’s social care (CSC) has a crucial role to play in supporting families to achieve this goal. The last decade has seen a rise in CSC involvement for children across all age groups.
The vast majority of children in care proceedings in England and Wales are currently infants under the age of one, with more than half being newborn babies less than two weeks old.
When safeguarding concerns are raised during pregnancy, CSC might become involved to plan for safeguarding interventions once the baby has been born. Involvement from CSC during pregnancy, through pre-birth assessments, is known to complicate ongoing relationships between parents and health and social care professionals.
Availability of administrative data about babies and children known to CSC has given us more insight into the scale of the problem in recent years. However, evidence about the women with CSC involvement during pregnancy and the postnatal period has remained limited.
Project aim
To explore maternal characteristics, outcomes and experiences of women in contact with children’s social care during the perinatal period, in particular of those mothers facing separation from their infant.
About the research
Although the study has a wider remit than the south London population, it will be the first study to focus on maternity experiences and outcomes of a marginalised and under-researched group of women, whose complex needs are currently unmet.
The quantitative analysis will provide more information about the needs and outcomes of women in south London that are at risk of having their baby removed from their care, and therefore contribute to building the evidence base around health inequalities for women with multiple social disadvantage.
How the research was carried out
Firstly, we undertook a systematic review and meta-synthesis of existing qualitative literature. Subsequently, the study applied a range of different research methods:
Through interviews, we explored experiences of perinatal care of women who faced separation from their baby shortly after birth
Using the eLIXIR – Born in South London database, we investigated socio-demographic, medical and pregnancy-related characteristics of women with social care involvement during pregnancy, and explored whether women who presented with social risk factors in pregnancy were appropriately referred
We investigated MBRRACE-UK maternal death surveillance data of women with children’s social care involvement during the perinatal period prior to their death, and conducted a confidential enquiry to examine the care of a sample of women with social care involvement
How patients and the public are involved in the research
The study has strong links with several organisations that support women whose baby was taken into care, such as Birth Companions, MPower and Pause, who fully endorse the research. An expert panel of women with lived experience was involved in preparing the proposal by checking relevance, defining research questions and fine-tuning sensitive use of language.
A dedicated MUMS@RISC advisory panel came together on regular occasions and since the start of the project, developed a Research Engagement Charter, which reflects the values underpinning the entire research project.
The panel remained involved throughout the project to help guide the research journey. The engagement leads of the organisations also played key roles in recruitment and support of participants.
Research outputs
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Healthcare experiences of pregnant and postnatal women and healthcare professionals when facing child protection in the perinatal period: A systematic review and Critical Interpretative Synthesis
July 2024 - →
Separation at birth due to safeguarding concerns: Using reproductive justice theory to re-think the role of midwives
June 2024 - →
Characteristics, outcomes, and maternity care experiences of women with children’s social care involvement who subsequently died: national cohort study and confidential enquiry
July 2025 — BMJ Medicine - →
Report: Understanding the characteristics, outcomes and experiences of women with children’s social care involvement during pregnancy and early motherhood. A summary from the MUMS@RISC study
October 2025 📄 - →
Contact with child protection services during pregnancy: a cross-sectional study using the eLIXIR Born in South London, UK maternity-child data linkage
October 2025 — BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Media coverage
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A third of UK women who died during or after pregnancy known to children’s services, study finds — The Guardian (10 July 2025) - →
BBC Radio 4 — Woman’s Hour (10 July 2025)
Stay informed — MUMS@RISC newsletters
Read the latest newsletters from the MUMS@RISC study:
Project lead
Kaat De Backer
Research associate, King’s College London
Related content
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Impact case study: Improving healthcare and support for families with children’s social care involvement - →
Conference highlights urgent need to support families with children’s social care involvement in the first 1001 days - →
‘Support, not judgement’: study explores links between children’s social care involvement and maternal deaths - →
Maternity and perinatal mental health research at ARC South London
Original source: arc-sl.nihr.ac.uk — NIHR ARC South London legacy content archived May 2026.