Extra support announced for pregnant women with autism in Suffolk
A series of support plans are now available through the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Last updated 28th Jan 2021
Extra support for pregnant women with autism has been announced by the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT).
Three support plans have been developed which aim to help women communicate about their care through pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period.
They were developed by Karen Henry, an ESNEFT midwife who has autism at Ipswich Hospital, and her maternity colleagues.
She said: "As an autistic midwife I saw an opportunity to improve practice for autistic women accessing maternity services.
"As the number of young people diagnosed with autism increases, I feel the maternity service needs to prepare to meet the needs of autistic women accessing our care.
"I drew upon women’s narratives, plus experiences of caring for autistic women, to embark on creating a series of support plans to enhance maternity care for women with autism or those who have learning disabilities."
According to ESNEFT, women with autism may wish to outline certain aspect of their environment for appointments, like visiting at quieter times of the day, or giving birth in a quiet space or one with lower lighting.
Women can also request a planned visit to the maternity suite prior to labour to remove any anxieties.
The printed plans also include information about what changes may happen after labour, such as the emotions around becoming a mother.
Karen added: "The idea for the plans is for them to open communication channels between the women and the maternity team.
"The antenatal support plan allows us to give women important information such as signs of being unwell, recognising fetal movements and what to expect at appointments in an easy-read format with supporting images for those who are visual learners."