A YORK campaigner has hit out at official NHS advice for pregnant women which says they should make their partners a “special meal” so they don’t feel “overlooked”.

The tips for mums-to-be in the online guide says at 22 weeks in it’s a “good week to make a fuss of your partner” who might get “a bit overlooked”.

It suggests cooking a special meal - and includes a link to recipes for fruit crumble, fish and chips and curry, among others.

Guidelines also state pregnant women who are in pain should “get help with household chores from your partner, family and friends”.

Joeli Brearley, a maternity discrimination advocate from York, shared her fury over the advice which she says perpetuates negative gender stereotypes.

Thousands of others online agreed, with one adding: “Did we just time-hop to the 1950s?”

Mum-of-two Joeli, who founded campaign group ‘Pregnant and Screwed’ in 2015, said in an Instagram post: “The first says that pregnant women with pelvic floor pain should get ‘help’ from their partner suggesting that the housework is a woman’s responsibility.

York Press: maternity

“Yes, we know that women do 60 per cent more of the domestic labour (including almost three times the caring) so it is likely that most women will have to ask for help, but phrasing it this way only entrenches and perpetuates that gender stereotype, thereby ensuring women continue to do the lion’s share of the housework. Also, many dads and partners don’t want to be reduced to a ‘helper;’ they want to be equal partners in the raising of their kids. Wouldn’t it be better to say: ‘if you don’t have a partner who can do the housework, then ask for support from family and friends.’

“The second slide made me actually gasp.

“This is generic advice for pregnant women, again on the @nhsengland website, which suggests they should make their partner a fancy meal to ensure they don’t feel left out! If your partner feels ‘overlooked’ because you’re pregnant, then they might want to consider paying for their own counselling.”

The advice about household chores is on the NHS website, in a page about pelvic pain in pregnancy, listing coping tips.

The second post about “making a fuss of your partner” during pregnancy by cooking them something special comes from week 22 of NHS’s Start4Life week-by-week guide to pregnancy.

It says: “Could you try cooking a special meal? Here are some tasty recipes you could try.”

NHS England was approached for comment.