FTWW’s Debbie and Isabel were pleased to be able to present to the All-Wales Clinical Supervisors for Midwives Network on 30th October, on the need for maternity services and care to understand and accommodate the needs of those who are living with long-term health conditions, are disabled, or neurodivergent.
Huge thanks to our volunteers who shared their incredibly powerful stories and recommendations for maternity care, including the need to see women and people like themselves represented in case-studies, information, and training.
Above all, community members want to feel more confident that midwives and healthcare professionals will anticipate and understand their needs. These include women with gynaecological conditions for whom conceiving may have been challenging and who experienced pain and other symptoms throughout their pregnancy; neurodivergent patients’ feelings of sensory overwhelm and communication challenges when in new environments or in pain; those with mental health conditions who might need quiet spaces, more time, focused attention, and kindness from their healthcare providers, or those who have experienced previous pregnancy losses who just want others to appreciate the array of emotions and anxiety hiding beneath the smiles and saying ‘all is well’. The Network could not have been more welcoming and supportive, and we look forward to working with them again in the future.
Clinical Supervisor for Midwives at Swansea Bay University Health Board, Claire Parkin, gave us this feedback:
“As a passionate collective, we are committed to embedding the themes you raised within our local maternity units. Your presentation reinforced the importance of co-production between staff and service users, helping to address historical inequities and rebuild confidence in maternity services. We leave this session inspired and better informed, with a renewed commitment to ensuring that every woman and birthing person’s voice is heard, respected, and acted upon in our Maternity services.”
Our huge thanks to the Network for inviting us, and again to our volunteers for their impactful contributions that we know will change things for the better.
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