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DMC Support focuses on helping parents develop the necessary skills and essential support for success. Their team offers NDIS access assistance, understanding of NDIS plans, connections to disability-specific services, community support, NDIS service coordination, plan review preparation, and liaising with the NDIA when needed. As an independent service provider, they are committed to providing personalised support, putting choice and control back into the hands of parents.

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DMC Support | Supporting NDIS participants through pregnancy

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DMC Support offers independent support coordination and specialist support for NDIS participants, supporting throughout your journey to achieve NDIS Plan goals.

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Breastfeeding is a touchy topic, but it’s also an extremely important one. It feels like these days there’s a lot of pressure skewed in one direction. When you first start getting advice during your pregnancy, you’ll hear a regularly-used phrase, “Breast is best”. Midwives and doctors strongly encourage you to pursue breastfeeding, which means right from the start, the pressure is on.

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Breastfeeding with a disability - Disability Maternity Care

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Whether you are a first time mum or a third, everyone has an opinion about how to feed your child. Deaire, brand ambassador for disAbility Maternity Care talks about the challenges of breastfeeding with a disability.

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Empowered Mobility for Moms with Physical Disabilities

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Empowered Mobility for Moms with Physical Disabilities

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The idea of getting out and about after the birth of a child, is daunting and a little scary for any new parent. When you add in a physical disability, that fear is expanded tenfold. When you’ve spent your life always having to be wary of what you’re capable of physically, the idea of then being responsible for the physical well-being and safety of a baby, when you don’t 100% trust your own body, is terrifying.

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5 tips on getting out and about as a mum with a physical disability - Disability Maternity Care

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"Don't let anything hold you back. Find a way that works for you." Brand ambassador Deaire talks about the importance of getting out and about as a new mum with a physical disability, and provides 5 tips on how you can do this.

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Self-Care Secrets for Post- Caesarean Recovery

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Self-Care Secrets for Post- Caesarean Recovery

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The first few months after your baby is born are a crucial time for self-care. I’m going to bust one very important myth. Once the baby is born, it’s not just a quick and easy transition back. Don’t forget your body has just been through a pretty traumatic experience and now it has to readapt to a new normal.

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Self-care after a caesarean when you have a disability - Disability Maternity Care

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The first few months after your baby is born are a crucial time for self-care. I'm going to bust one very important myth. Once the baby is born, it's not just a quick and easy transition back. Don't forget your body has just been through a pretty traumatic experience and now it has to readapt to a new normal.

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Tips to help family caregivers nurture empathy

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Tips to help family caregivers nurture empathy

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It may be surprising to hear, but not all caregivers come from an empathetic mindset. More often than not, caregivers often confuse patience with empathy. A mindset of empathy means that you can intimately understand the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of a person. ‘Putting yourself in their shoes’ is often the way empathy is described.

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 15% of the world's population experiences a disability. Of these, approximately half are women, with around 10 to 12% of childbearing age ¹. A comparable proportion of women with disability are also seen within maternity services ². Of these mothers, nearly half experience physical disability, a third mental illness, and approximately 6-8% have either an intellectual or sensory disability respectively ³.

Whilst this represents a significant proportion of the global population, and birthing women, mothers with disabilities still experience stigma, from both professional and family caregivers ⁴. These mothers are often forced to deal with personal and parenting challenges with minimal support, which can cause increased emotional, mental, and physical stress.
5 ways family caregivers can provide empathy and support
This article focuses on five ways family caregivers (such as partners, parents and siblings) can help mothers with a disability feel empowered as they begin their journey towards motherhood:

Cultivate a mindset of empathy

Listen to their issues and concerns

Doing a self-check on your communication style

Educate yourself about the care she will need

Help them access health providers and services that will support them

It may be surprising to hear, but not all caregivers come from an empathetic mindset. More often than not, caregivers often confuse patience with empathy. A mindset of empathy means that you can intimately understand the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of a person. 'Putting yourself in their shoes' is often the way empathy is described.

Being able to understand and empathize with what they're going through, as a mother with a disability, is first and foremost. This can be integral to reducing the stress she is feeling and helping her become empowered. Although being related to her and caring for her since childhood, may help you understand her as a person, many family caregivers have additional worries that affect their ability to have empathy and support her during pregnancy, birth and into motherhood.

Family members, especially parents may feel concerned either that pregnancy will exacerbate chronic conditions present, that their daughter won't cope as a mother, or may not be able to develop the skills required for parenting,. Current research clearly shows most mothers with a disability can parent and manage well providing they get support tailored to their needs 5. And crucial to this is family caregiver support! As such, it's important for you to adjust your attitude and thinking so that you're not just viewing their circumstance from your point of view. Instead, you're able to respond with genuine empathy and compassion that will benefit both of you.
2. Listen to their issues and concerns
Many women with disabilities as they become mothers have lots of worries and concerns, additional to stigmatizing attitudes from others. As shared in Deaire Pecora's story about pregnancy with cerebral palsy, others had warned her that she would be unable to carry a baby to term, which terrified her. Despite this, she persisted and was able to get her family circle to listen to her, and get the support she to become a mother. But this isn't the case for many mothers with disabilities who experience negative attitudes from family caregivers ⁶.

As young people become adults, the parental role changes. Usually this is a gradual transition through the teen years, as young adults become more experienced with decision-making, and understand the consequences of their decisions. For parents of a young person with a disability, this transition can be harder. Parents can continue to feel protective, which can lead to fewer life experiences or decision-making opportunities for the young person with a disability. Parents and family caregivers may want to continue making these decisions for their adult child, around becoming a parent, especially if the mother has an intellectual disability.

Pregnancy also means your role will be changing as you go from parent to grandparent. These changes can make it harder to listen to their issues and concerns. But the bottom line is, she needs to know you are on her side, supporting her in this journey, even when you might have your own worries.
3. Doing a self-check on your communication style
Communication can often be challenging, as we all have different communication styles. Communication is affected by our own experiences, abilities, gender, age or cultural group. As a family caregiver, it's important to do a self-check on how you are communicating with the mother-to-be. Consider these things:

Is your communication style still one of parent to child?

Are you telling or asking about issues?

Are you open to her expressing her own ideas and opinions about how she wants to parent?

Are you using language that is empowering?

Are you supporting the choices she is making, or wanting to make?

Checking communication and the support of other family members is important too. You all need to be on the same page in supporting her in this journey. Perhaps her siblings, partner or partner's parents need a nudge to be more active listeners, too. If you are struggling in this area, seeking help from health professionals can be beneficial. These professionals can help you work through worries or concerns that impact your ability to provide empowering communication.
4. Educate yourself about the care she will need
Women with a disability usually have their day-to-day routine established with their caregivers, whether it's assisting with physical care, or assisting with communication or decisions. However, pregnancy and motherhood will change that. The type of care needed will be different. Many women know what they can and can't manage, and they need to be the ones to decide on what they need you to do. As such, asking them to let you know if they need help is important, rather than assuming she will need help with most things.

Antenatal or prenatal care will need to be tailored to her specific pregnancy needs, including the information she gets about pregnancy, birth and early motherhood. Telehealth is becoming in Australia, with over 89,000 providers now online. This means that you may also benefit from sitting in on virtual consultations. If she is happy for you to attend antenatal appointments with her and her partner, any medical queries you have can be asked and answered on the spot. This will allow you to understand more about any caregiving changes needed over the pregnancy or closer to the birth.
5. Help them access health providers and services that will support them
Depending on where the mother-to-be lives, the type of services and models of care will vary. Finding health providers like GPs and midwives who provide person-centred care is important to meeting the mothers' individual needs. Many community health centres can provide information about local non-government services that provide specific services (parenting programs, young mothers supports, domestic violence support, etc...).

It is important that women also have their National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Plans reviewed early in pregnancy too along with submitting an NDIS Change in Circumstances form (now she is having a baby). While the Department of Health is responsible for pregnancy and birthing care, additional funding for mothers at-home supports with a new baby, needs to be considered.

Conclusion

Motherhood is one of the most exciting and fulfilling events in any woman's life. For those with disabilities, although their circumstances may create some challenges, the experience should not be any less rewarding. With an empathetic family caregiver at their side, mothers with disabilities can enjoy every day feeling confident, supported and understood.
References

1. Heideveld-Gerritsen, M., van Vulpen, M., Hollander, M., Oude Maatman, S., Ockhuijsen, H., & van den Hoogen, A. (2021, 2021/05/01/). Maternity care experiences of women with physical disabilities: A systematic review. Midwifery, 96, 102938. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2021.102938

2. Smithson, C. A., McLachlan, H. L., Newton, M. S., Smith, C., & Forster, D. A. (2021). Perinatal outcomes of women with a disability who received pregnancy care through a specialised disability clinic in Melbourne, Australia. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 61(4), 548-553. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajo.13326

3. Malouf, R., Henderson, J., & Redshaw, M. (2017). Access and quality of maternity care for disabled women during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period in England: data from a national survey. BMJ Open, 7(7), e016757. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016757

4. Williams, N. (2020). Travelling with two: balancing identity and risk in mothers with intellectual disability [PhD Thesis, University of Newcastle]. Newcastle.

5. Tarasoff, L. A. (2015). Experiences of Women With Physical Disabilities During the Perinatal Period: A Review of the Literature and Recommendations to Improve Care. Health Care for Women International, 36(1), 88-107. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399332.2013.815756

6. Powell, R. M., Parish, S. L., Mitra, M., & Rosenthal, E. (2020). Role of family caregivers regarding sexual and reproductive health for women and girls with intellectual disability: A scoping review. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 64(2), 131-157. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.12706

Authors: Jennifer Birch & Dr Namira Williams

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Mothers with a disability: 5 tips to help family caregivers nurture empathy and support - Disability Maternity Care

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Family and partner support is important in helping mothers with a disability succeed. This article discusses 5 ways family caregivers can support mothers to succeed, including developing empathy and non-judgmental communication.

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Transforming Disability Diagnosis into a Life Coaching and Chair Yoga Venture

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Transforming Disability Diagnosis into a Life Coaching and Chair Yoga Venture

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I decided to make it my mission to support as many women on the NDIS to feel empowered and capable and as though they are moving forward in their life, and to view their NDIS plans as tools to help them achieve this. For the moment I am only able to help self-managed, and some plan managed participants with this service.

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Mamability: from disability diagnosis to launching a Life Coaching and Chair Yoga business - Disability Maternity Care

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I didn't know I had a disability when I had my two daughters 11 and 9 years ago. But I knew at the time that I struggled with many tasks that come with having a new baby. I couldn't use nappy pins, I struggled to dress them.

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Getting ready for your baby is an overwhelming stage for any parent-to-be, but is exacerbated when you have to factor in a disability. No-one knows your own limitations better than you do, and that often means that you’re your own worse critic.

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Getting Baby-Ready as a Mum with a Physical Disability - Disability Maternity Care

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"There were many people that doubted I could be a mum without someone else to do the physical things for me." Deaire, our brand ambassador speaks about getting baby-ready when you have a physical disability. She urges mothers with a disability to listen to their bodies, and consider how you might do things as you prepare for managing a newborn at home.

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How to keep your kids safe during outdoor activities?

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How to keep your kids safe during outdoor activities?

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Summer is synonymous with fun for young children. After all, the little ones get to do what they love best—play outdoors. Trips to the beach, playing with friends under the open sky, and frolicking in the swimming pool with friends and family for a company are some typical summer activities.

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Summer and Water Safety: Tips for Parents of Young Children - Disability Maternity Care

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Summer is synonymous with fun for young children - trips to the beach, playing with friends under the open sky, and playing in the swimming pool with friends and family are some typical summer activities. But in all that fun and excitement, it’s important to remember that water can pose a threat for…

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This was an unplanned pregnancy and I’d spent years being warned by everyone, from doctors to friends and family, that I might not be physically capable of carrying a healthy baby to term. So, I was terrified.

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Becoming pregnant with cerebral palsy - Disability Maternity Care

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"That first pregnancy test is nerve-wracking for everyone, so many thoughts pass through your head as you wait for a result", For Deaire, who has cerebral palsy, becoming pregnant was not only a surprise, but added a whole new layer to managing life with a disability.

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During pregnancy, your body undergoes many changes, and nutrition during pregnancy is important to support your health and that of your baby. This article summarises current nutrition-related recommendations for a healthy pregnancy.

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Where do healthy eating habits sit on your pregnancy to do list? - Disability Maternity Care

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Knowing what to eat and drink for a healthy pregnancy helps your baby’s growth and development, as well as keeps you well. Knowing what NOT to eat is just as important. Read on to find the details.

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Singing lullabies has been part of every human culture for as long as we have been able to sing. We associate it with soothing babies, but it is only in the last few years that we have learned that lullabies are so much more than that.

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The Magic of Lullabies - Disability Maternity Care

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Eating healthily and being physically active are important for a healthy pregnancy. Together they can influence your fertility and risk of complications during pregnancy.

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The best diet for pregnancy starts before a positive test - Disability Maternity Care

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Eating healthily and being physically active are important for a healthy pregnancy. Together they can influence your fertility and risk of complications during pregnancy. If you are planning to have a baby, or are pregnant, this article can help you.

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Every woman needs the right support throughout their pregnancy experience. Living with a disability and being pregnant may mean that additional support is usually required. Physiotherapists, who specialise in women’s health can be a great resource for these mothers during pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood.

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Physiotherapy care during pregnancy, birth and beyond - Disability Maternity Care

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Getting ready for birth is like preparing for a marathon. It’s about being both physically and mentally prepared. That’s where physiotherapists can help. Especially those trained to specifically work with women during this time.

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‘It takes a village’ is often said about parenting and the fact that parents need support in raising children. The same could be said about organisations that provide this support to parents.

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Karinya House partners with disAbility Maternity Care - Disability Maternity Care

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It takes a village' is often said about parenting. The same could be said about organisations as they provide support to parents. We are pleased to announce a partnership between disAbility Maternity Care and Karinya House.

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How Occupational Therapists help Mothers with disability overcome challenges

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How Occupational Therapists help Mothers with disability overcome challenges

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Occupational therapists (OTs) are allied health professionals who promote a person’s health and well-being. They do this by enabling them to achieve as much independence as possible in living their daily life.

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Occupational therapists (OTs) are allied health professionals who promote a person's health and
wellbeing. They do this by enabling them to achieve as much independence as possible in living their daily life. For mothers with a disability, this means helping them learn and become mothers, alongside other professionals such as midwives.

OTs can help women identify the challenges they might encounter in becoming a mother and develop tools to overcome these challenges. This might include navigating the maternity system better, understanding written materials to finding aids and devices to care for a baby, and undertake the mothering role.

Janelle Gullan, an OT from The Wild Orange Tree discusses how occupational therapists can help mothers with a disability.
About Janelle
Janelle is an occupational therapist who supports women to connect to their body and navigate mothering transitions with self-love, confidence and vitality. With a focus on pelvic health, mental health and menstrual cycles, she explores rite of passage and the ways that mothering impacts roles, relationships, participation and joy. With a long history working in the disability sector, she is passionate about supporting people of all abilities to be the mother they need and want to be. Janelle's private practice is based in Melbourne, Australia, with Telehealth services also available.

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Occupational Therapists supporting mothers with a disability - Disability Maternity Care

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Occupational therapists (OTs) are allied health professionals who promote a person's health and wellbeing. They do this by enabling them to achieve as much independence as possible in living their daily life. For mothers with a disability, this means helping them learn and become mothers, alongside other professionals such as midwives.

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A tribute to mothers and families who lost a baby

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A tribute to mothers and families who lost a baby

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Disenfranchised grief is described as grief in which the grievers ‘feel like they can’t share their pain or feelings with others – that their grief is unacceptable, unworthy or wrong and that they don’t have the right to be feeling the way they do’.

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October is Pregnancy and Infant loss Awareness Month. Throughout this month, we acknowledge the loss that many families have when they lose a baby during pregnancy or infancy.

This causes incredible grief and feelings of loss, not only for the parents who were preparing to welcome a new life into the family, but for other family members. Also, for siblings, who may have been preparing to become the 'big sister' or 'big brother', and for those who may have become grandparents for the first time. It is not only loss of the family's baby, but also loss of the hopes and dreams that each person may have had about their life, with their baby.

When such a loss occurs for parents with disabilities, many service providers or family members may feel ill-equipped to respond appropriately to these parents. Health and other service providers often feel untrained in supporting parents with a disability during pregnancy and early mothering ¹. When infant loss occurs, this is even more so. Lack of training may result in providers using platitudes. However, for parents with a disability, this approach can lead to them feeling more stigmatised.

This is particularly so for parents with intellectual disabilities, who often face enormous stigmatisation which begins in pregnancy and continues as they parent. These parents are more likely to have their babies and infants removed from their care 2,3,4. Whilst their infant has not died, the loss that these parents face at removal is not unlike those of other parents experiencing stillbirth or miscarriage. It is a loss of dreams for themselves and their child. However, unlike abled parents, those with disability often experience this loss as disenfranchised grief.

Disenfranchised grief is described as grief in which the grievers 'feel like they can't share their pain or feelings with others - that their grief is unacceptable, unworthy or wrong and that they don't have the right to be feeling the way they do' ⁵. Essentially, their grief is not validated by others. When infants are removed from parental care, feelings of disenfranchised grief occur as family or providers see them as unfit to parent. Parents with intellectual disability particularly feel a lack of social acknowledgement ⁶.

When infant removal occurs, parents often feel devalued, and further stigmatised and labelled. Once labels such as 'other kids taken away' or 'unfit to parent' are given, it is extremely hard for these parents to show they can parent in the future. This stigmatisation continues into other pregnancies, with parents feeling continually scrutinised about the choices they make and having to prove their worth as parents.

Unlike other losses which usually lead to acceptance and remembrance, parents who have had children removed, continue to experience the raw emotion every time they are have visits with their babies. They are mothers, yet not mothers, fathers, but not fathers. The pain of their loss never goes away, as we know from the stories of parents and children of the 'Stolen Generation' in Australia ⁷.

Grandparents and other family members also lose their dreams when children are removed from parental care. They lose their dreams of grandparenthood and may be disenfranchised in their loss and grief as well. If they become kinship carers for the baby, they may lose the relationship with their child now adult as grandparents become the parents. Other grandparents may only see their grandchild infrequently, as they are deemed an 'at risk' family with the baby going into non-family foster care.

So, let's pay tribute this month to ALL those parents and families who grieve the loss of a baby or infant.

1. Strnadová I, Bernoldová J, Adamčíková Z, Klusáček J. Medical personnel's knowledge, attitudes, and experiences with regard to mothers with intellectual disability in the Czech Republic. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability. 2019;44(1):81-91.

2. Conder J, Mirfin-Veitch B, Sanders J, Munford R. Planned pregnancy, planned parenting: enabling choice for adults with a learning disability. British Journal of Learning Disabilities. 2011;39(2):105-12.

3. Llewellyn G, McConnell D, Ferronato L. Prevalence and outcomes for parents with disabilities and their children in an Australian court sample. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2003;27(3):235-51.

4. Mayes R, Llewellyn G. What happens to parents with intellectual disability following removal of their child in child protection proceedings? Journal of intellectual & developmental disability. 2009;34(1):92-5.

5. Hogarth, M. Disenfranchised grief, The Rosemary Branch, Autumn 2015, Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement, https://www.grief.org.au/uploads/uploads/Rosemary-Branch-Autumn-2015.pdf

6. Mayes R, Llewellyn G. Mothering differently: Narratives of mothers with intellectual disability whose children have been compulsorily removed. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability. 2012;37(2):121-30.

7. Commonwealth of Australia, Bringing them home: National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their families, 1997, https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/content/pdf/social_justice/bringing_them_home_report.pdf

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Disenfranchised grief and infant loss - Disability Maternity Care

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October is Pregnancy and Infant loss Awareness Month. Throughout this month, we acknowledge the loss that many families have when they lose a baby during pregnancy or infancy. This causes incredible grief and feelings of loss, not only for the parents who were preparing to welcome a new life into the family, but for other family members.

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Birth is an incredibly emotional time, not only for parents but for other family members who have been waiting for the new addition to their family. For many parents, birth brings joy. But for some parents, birth brings additional traumas.

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Can you imagine having just given birth to a newborn baby: that special smell that only newborns can bring, the joy of discovering their gender if you didn't know already, and their intent gaze at you as you begin that lifelong relationship.

Birth is an incredibly emotional time, not only for parents, but for other family members who have been waiting for the new addition to their family. For many parents, birth brings joy. But for some parents, birth brings additional traumas. Trauma can have physical form, or it can be psychological and emotional. The thing about trauma, is that it does not go away. It continues to haunt the emotions of those involved and can become embodied in physical complaints.

Emotional trauma from birth is now recognised as a contributor to postnatal depression for some women. However, one group of mothers whose birth trauma is not acknowledged, is mothers with an intellectual disability. A significant number of these mothers internationally will have their baby removed from their care ¹, either after birth or at some time during early childhood. They are more likely than mothers with other disabilities or other disadvantaged groups to experience this 2,3,4,5,. For most women with intellectual disability, the removal of their baby following birth is not recognised as birth trauma. Not taking a baby home to the cot prepared for them is incredibly traumatic. We recognise this for mothers who have had a stillborn baby, or a neonatal death. Yet when mothers with intellectual disability do not take their baby home, health providers' focus is mostly on having saved the baby from potential neglect by these mothers, and not acknowledging their grief as they face an empty cot. When grief is not acknowledged by others, it is known as disenfranchised grief. It is not only the mothers who experience disenfranchised grief, but other family members such as grandparents, aunts and uncles. They not only miss the opportunity to provide that much needed support for a new mother, but also in establishing their relationship with the new baby. Other family members who might take on kinship care of the baby, experience different kinds of birth trauma. That is, supporting both the mother who has lost her baby, whilst caring for a newborn themselves.

It is time to recognise that birth trauma that these mothers and other marginalised mothers who have their baby's removed from their care experience. Often baby removal or assumption of care occurs in a covert way. That is, the mother or family are not told before the birth, that this will be the decision of child protection agencies. This increases the trauma for the mother and other family members, and decreases trust in health and social providers.

The trauma of removing baby's can be reduced by open conversations during pregnancy, and assessment of mothering skills using processes adjusted for intellectual disability rather than using measures applied to 'good mothering'.

When women are not able to mother full-time, we need to facilitate the opportunity for them to be mothers some of the time and acknowledge the vital role that they play as the birth mother in their lives. As Deborah Lee-Furness writes:

In my journey of self-discovery I realised that the relationship with our mums, which is our first relationship when we arrive in this world, has the most profound effect on who we are, how we are and what we do, beyond the obvious. That connection with our mamas, which starts, I believe, before conceptions then through the utero experience and then of course after birth. It shapes every thought, action and feeling we experience throughout our life. That relationship is for ALWAYS, whether you are in the same place or the other side of the world or even separated at birth...It is necessary for me as a mother to embrace both birth mothers of my children, as they are a part of who my children are. It doesn't mean they need to be physically a part of our lives, but they need to be honoured and held close for their role in my children's lives⁷.

References:

1. McConnell, D., Mayes, R., & Llewellyn, G. (2008). Women with intellectual disability at risk of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 52(Part 6), 529-535.

2. Redshaw, M., Malouf, R., Gao, H., & Gray, R. (2013). Women with disability: the experience of maternity care during pregnancy, labour and birth and the postnatal period. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 13(174), 1-14.

3. Conder, J. A., Mirfin‐Veitch, B. F., & Gates, S. (2015). Risk and Resilience Factors in the Mental Health and Well-Being of Women with Intellectual Disability. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 28(6), 572-583. doi:10.1111/jar.12153

4. Mayes, R., & Llewellyn, G. (2009). What happens to parents with intellectual disability following removal of their child in child protection proceedings? Journal of intellectual & developmental disability, 34(1), 92-95. doi:10.1080/13668250802688348

5. Wilson, S., McKenzie, K., Quayle, E., & Murray, G. (2014). A systematic review of interventions to promote social support and parenting skills in parents with an intellectual disability. Child: Care, Health & Development, 40(1), 7-19. doi:10.1111/cch.12023

6. Llewellyn, G., McConnell, D., & Ferronato, L. (2003). Prevalence and outcomes for parents with disabilities and their children in an Australian court sample. Child Abuse & Neglect, 27(3), 235-251. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0145-2134(03)00004-8

7. Furness, D.-L. (2015). Mothers. In M. Sved, M. Linden, C. Nieman, L. Moriarty, M. Scott, & N. Kon-yu (Eds.), Mothers and Others. Australia: Pan Macmillan. pp. 28-29

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Invisible birth trauma - Disability Maternity Care

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Can you imagine having just given birth to a newborn baby: that special smell that only newborns can bring, the joy of discovering their gender if you didn't know already, and their intent gaze at you as you begin that lifelong relationship.

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It is important for you as the Care Provider to support her feelings and the choices she wants to make about this pregnancy. It often helps by exploring how she feels about becoming a mother. And many women’s feelings change over time too.
Source

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It a story of a mother who experienced stillbirth

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It a story of a mother who experienced stillbirth

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‘You don’t know what it's like to wake up every morning and see an empty cot’.

These words bring to mind mothers who have had a stillbirth or a miscarriage. We do not think of those mothers who have given birth to a live baby and returned from the hospital without their baby.
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Antenatal Visits for Pregnant Women with Disability

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Antenatal Visits for Pregnant Women with Disability

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If you are a Service Provider caring for a woman with a disability who finds she is pregnant, it is important for her to see a health professional like her GP, as early as possible to help her make the choices that suit her.
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Feeling about being pregnant for the first time

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Feeling about being pregnant for the first time

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Many women when they find out they are pregnant, have mixed feelings. Pregnancy can be both an exciting and scary time for many women.
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How to take care of Pregnant Women with Disabilities

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How to take care of Pregnant Women with Disabilities

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Have you cared for a woman with a disability having babies? Did you know if she had a disability or not? Did you ask her what were her worries about having a baby?

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Have you cared for a woman with a disability having babies? Did you know if she had a disability or not? Did you ask her what were her worries about having a baby?

As a health professional, you may or may not have cared for a woman with a disability having a baby. Some health professionals find this difficult, as they may not have interacted with a person with a disability in their own social life. You may be uncomfortable to talk to the woman about her disability. This is not unusual. Many health professionals find asking about disability, and particularly intellectual disability challenging. Physical disability, visual and hearing impairment are usually more obvious than asking about intellectual or learning disability.
How do I ask about her disability?
People with disabilities in general experience stigma and discrimination in their lives. Especially those with intellectual disability (ID). If you think she might have an ID and you're not sure how to ask, use these tips-

Lead in with general questions first to help her feel comfortable.

Start with a question about schooling, as this is less confronting. "How was school for you?" or "Did you have any difficulties at school?" is a good way to start. This opens up the conversation, which you can then explore in more detail.

Be non-judgemental - people with a disability already experience prejudice in their lives

Sometimes it may take several visits with this mother-to-be for her to open up and disclose her disability. She will need to build up her trust in you - that you are not judging her but are there to support her. Many women with disability feel other people, including family and friends may not believe they can be mothers. Sometimes they may fear that they will have their baby taken away, and this might be the reason they are not disclosing their disability.
Supporting her confidence in becoming a mother.
Reassure them that you are there to support them, as well as your clinical role. Your role is helping her develop her confidence in becoming a mother. Parenting is a learned skill for everyone, whether they have a disability or not.

Starting your health provider-mother relationship early in pregnancy means you have more time to help her develop these skills.
Providing information to women with disability in pregnancy
The type and way of providing information about pregnancy, birth and parenting will depend on the mother's disability. When the mother has communication difficulties, establishing how best to provide information is crucial right from the start. Her partner, family or carer will be integral in finding the best way to do this. However, during conversations with the mother, you need to focus on her, and talk to her, not her carers. This is similar to the principles when using interpreters for women from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Women with intellectual disability need information provided in small amounts at the level of their understanding. Using pictures and models is a helpful adjunct to your explanation. Written information needs to be reworded. If you are developing written materials, check the readability level of the document first. There are also guidelines on developing these materials for people with ID.

Women with other disabilities will often have a good understanding of their disability but will be unsure of how it affects their pregnancy. If you are not sure about this, 'Disability in Pregnancy and Childbirth' book contains lots of useful information for health providers.
Does she need NDIS support?
If the mother has existing National Insurance Disability Scheme (NDIS) funding, you may need to assist her to apply for further funding to support her new role as a parent. If she has been relatively independent in caring for herself prior to becoming pregnant and did not need NDIS funding she may need to apply for assistance now. Having a baby requires new skills and adds further challenges. To support her develop as a mother, additional funded services may be needed.

For other information:

Women with Disabilities Australia - a national organisation to support women with disabilities. Although not specific for maternity services, there is a section on motherhood and parenting.
http://wwda.org.au/issues/motherhd/
Family Planning NSW - provides factsheets and training in the area of sexuality and disability.
https://www.fpnsw.org.au/
New South Wales Council for Intellectual Disability - this site provides information about and for people with intellectual disability.
http://www.nswcid.org.au/
Parenting Research Centre - The 'Healthy Start' section has specific pregnancy and parenting resources for parents with intellectual disability
https://www.parentingrc.org.au
Change - a UK based website that provided information and services for people with intellectual disability. A picture gallery for developing written materials and specific resources for pregnancy and parenting are available.
http://www.changepeople.org/
National Disability Insurance Scheme - information on this scheme and funding for support if your client has a disability
https://www.ndis.gov.au/index.html

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What do you know about pregnancy care for women with disabilities?

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Have you cared for a woman with a disability having babies? Did you know if she had a disability or not? Did you ask her what were her worries about having a baby? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsrMq1Cp3oQ As a health professional, you may or may not have cared for a woman with a disability ha ...

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Domestic Violence for women with disability

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Domestic Violence for women with disability

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Babies of pregnant women who experience family violence are more likely to be stillborn, premature, or significantly growth restricted. Their mothers comparably experience an increased incidence of miscarriage, reduced infant bonding, and perinatal anxiety and depression1.

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September starts with a celebration of fathers; we hero our dads, their dads, and our children’s dads, spoiling them with breakfast in bed and a kindy appropriated colourful painting. But where are the dads with disabilities?

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Mind the (disability) gender gap - Disability Maternity Care

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'You can't be, what you can't see' - the words of 2022 Australian of the year Dylan Alcott are so important, as we approach Fathers day this month in Australia. We increasingly hear stories and see images of mothers with a disability in our media, but fathers with disabilities are often invisible.

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Tips on increasing mobility for Parent with disability

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Tips on increasing mobility for Parent with disability

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Everyone needs to get out of the house. You need it for your own mental health and your child needs it, so that they can engage with and learn from the world around them.

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5 tips on getting out and about as a mum with a physical disability - Disability Maternity Care

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"Don't let anything hold you back. Find a way that works for you." Brand ambassador Deaire talks about the importance of getting out and about as a new mum with a physical disability, and provides 5 tips on how you can do this.

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Breastfeeding is a touchy topic, but it’s also an extremely important one. It feels like these days there’s a lot of pressure skewed in one direction.

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Breastfeeding with a disability - Disability Maternity Care

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Whether you are a first time mum or a third, everyone has an opinion about how to feed your child. Deaire, brand ambassador for disAbility Maternity Care talks about the challenges of breastfeeding with a disability.