Multiple sclerosis and midwifery care

Abstract

For most women, adjusting to pregnancy and motherhood is a challenging experience. Although birth is usually an optimistic and enriching experience, it is not without difficulties and traumas. For women contemplating motherhood who also have a disability such as multiple sclerosis (MS), the journey can be especially difficult. There are sometimes problems in providing sensitive women-centred care for women with disabilities, and these problems may stem from misunderstandings, lack of knowledge and inappropriate attitudes based on stereotypical images of women and disabled people. Midwives and other carers involved in caring for women in childbirth sometimes need to be helped to see the ‘normal mother’ inside the disabled woman. When this happens the woman can be helped to grow in confidence and competence.