The RealBirth Company & InSignLanguage Empower Deaf Mothers & Break Barriers in Maternity Health!

Mother-to-be and mothers who are Deaf in the UK have faced significant barriers to accessing vital maternity education and knowledge. The RealBirth Company has been leading in empowering pregnant women with comprehensive information on labor, birth options, rights, and choices but a critical gap remained. A stark reality revealed that Deaf mothers are twice as likely to report poor communication during maternity care due to a lack of British Sign Language (BSL) support.*

From limited access to British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters to the lack of culturally relevant resources., The RealBirth Company partnered with InSignLanguage to bridge this communication divide. The challenge was multifaceted, requiring more than a simple translation. This project demanded linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance, and an understanding of complex medical terminology to ensure the information was not only accessible but truly useful.

A mother holding her newborn

A Collaborative Approach to Achieve Inclusion  This collaboration means that pregnant Deaf mothers, their carers, and teachers, medical staff now have access to critical educational materials in their native language for the first time. These materials were also inclusive towards their spouses, partners, family and friends.

The process was rigorous, involving:

• Internal linguistic discussions to ensure clarity and accuracy.

• Consistency checks across all modules.

• Careful clarification of complex medical terminology.

• Division of tasks among Deaf translators for seamless output.

• Rigorous quality assurance before publishing
  

The project was delivered in a year with 11 modules comprehensively translated successfully across 4 cultures represented by a diverse and inclusive team which is a groundbreaking resource for anyone to use.

Conclusion & Partnership Development – A Right Step towards Inclusive & Accessible Maternity Care Every mother deserves her right to understand her pregnancy journey and make informed decisions in her best interests. By breaking language and cultural barriers, The RealBirth Company and InSignLanguage are ensuring that the maternity education in the UK is inclusive, empowering, and accessible for all.This collaboration means that pregnant Deaf mothers, their carers, and teachers, medical staff now have access to critical educational materials in their native language for the first time.

This initiative is more than just a project; it is a testament to the power of collaboration and the commitment to inclusion. It ensures that Deaf mothers can confidently navigate their pregnancy journey, recognise the complex hormonal and physiological changes their bodies undergo during pregnancy, understand and prepare for a successful labour, make informed choices, and advocate for themselves in the maternity care system.

The work isn't done yet! The RealBirth Company and InSignLanguage are committed to expanding this vital support, with further plans to create new BSL related content and integrate AI capabilities to further empower the Deaf community in the future. * SignHealth/NHS England