REPLAY: Supporting neurodivergent birth: why does it matter?

Supporting neurodivergent birth will be Tuesday, May 20th at 12 pm EST / 11am CST / 9am PST Many women and birthing people find the perinatal time very challenging. Body changes, hormonal fluctuations, anxiety, fear of birth, and the challenges associated with caring for a newborn, can make this a stressful time. This can be magnified for neurodivergent people who may have additional sensory sensitivities, communication challenges, and frequently a foundation of poor mental health. The problem is that these areas of additional challenge and the associated support needs are poorly understood within maternity and perinatal healthcare. Evidence is increasingly pointing to neurodivergent people feeling unsupported and being at a higher risk of experiencing adverse outcomes than neurotypical people, including birth trauma, and perinatal anxiety and depression. In this workshop we will answer and explore: What neurodiversity is The gender bias in understanding and support The four support pillars of neurodivergent birth: Sensory processing Communication Executive functioning Mental health Stimming, meltdowns & shutdowns Masking Equality and equity in perinatal care ND birth and postnatal planning This workshop is led by Victoria White Victoria is a neurodivergent birth and postnatal doula and the founder of ‘Neurodivergent Birth’, a social enterprise that exists to improve understanding and support for neurodivergent families during pregnancy, birth and beyond. She believes women and birthing people have the right to a positive birth and postnatal experience, and that this can be achieved with the help of consistent and compassionate support. She offers support both in person in Aberdeen, Scotland, and online anywhere in the world. She is also a trained Traumatic Birth Recovery 3 Step Rewind Practitioner, and Perinatal Emotional Health and Wellbeing Practitioner. She is a mother to two girls, one of whom is autistic, and is passionate about improving support for neurodivergent people perinatally.