The Neurodivergent Birth Podcast
A podcast exploring neurodivergent experiences of pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, with the aim of improving support and outcomes for neurodivergent people and their families. Hosted by doula Victoria White.
The Neurodivergent Birth Podcast
S5 Ep 6: 8 Weeks to Prepare for your ND Birth: Navigating Communication in Maternity Care
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Welcome to week 5 of '8 Weeks to Prepare for your ND Birth'!
Today Victoria and Aileen White, founder of @mybirthsupportcic and ND Birth Training Practitioner, talk about navigating communication in maternity care as a neurodivergent person.
We cover:
- Common communication challenges (medical jargon, implied questions, rushed conversations)
- Asking for clear, direct language
- Processing time: it's okay to say "I need time to think"
- Written vs verbal communication preferences
- Building a communication preferences plan
- Using visual aids and written summaries
Aileen talks about the HEART acronym which can be helpful when asking for more processing time.
H: Hear - "I hear what you're saying"
E: Empathise - "and I know why you are recommending this"
A: Affirm - "but I would like more time to consider ...." or "I would like to try this alternative."
R: Reassure - "I’ll definitely let you know if anything changes/I'll get back to you"
T: Thanks - "Thank you so much for supporting me and my baby.”
You can find out more about Aileen and My Birth Support CIC at https://mybirth.org.uk/
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
