Mums are Amazing!

,

Rose McCarthy National Streams Coordinator, City of Sanctuary,

and NCT Expert Practitioner

Becoming a Mum

“ When I gave birth to my son it was something else –something more than happiness.” Chantilal Karimath

Forced to flee your Country for fear of your life –an asylum seeker or refugee

Wealth of knowledge, experience and traditions

How might you feel ?

Lonely Isolated In need of help but

don’t know where to go

Don’t want to be a burden

Will you be welcome?

NCT groups at Choto Moni Children’s Centre

A safe environment to share hopes, fears and experiences.

“What you need is a friend”

Main issues affecting women who attend

Accommodation

Fear of 4 D’s dispersal, destitution, detention and deportation

Living in Limbo

•Lack of knowledge of support

Access to interpreters Lack of suitable interpreters key finding in CEMACE report 2011 –14% maternity deaths to AS&R women though 0.5% population

Health issues pregnant BME women might face

Mental Health issues. Stress and anxiety – miscarriage and small babies .

Relive the horrors from home including seeing family members killed

Family left behind Unhealthy diet HIV –cost NHS up to

1 million per baby! FGM Domestic violence Inspirational Women

Hunger

Should men be at the birth?

Will I give birth alone?

Compare maternity care back home and in the UK.Give women a choice and belief in themselves.More normal births??

Clothing and Equipment Exchange –Thanks to St Mary’s!

“Mum, people do care, you’ve just got to ask the right questions”.

Need help but scared to trust –Health Befriending Network

Refugee Council Health Befrienders worked slowly to build trusting relationships

Time to talk and accompany to appointments, support groups

Health issues uncovered e.g. Domestic abuse, FGM, HIV and suicidal tendencies

Signposted and found help “She took me out of my

loneliness corner” Funding ended but will find

funding one day.......

Sharing Stories Training in public speaking

from WYP Practice at peer support

meetings Lectures, conferences and

parliament Writing up stories Plans for Maternity Stream

Resource Pack

What we want from our doctor is..

Banner hangs outside the Dean’s office at Leeds School of Medicine

Maternity films shown to medical students Awareness raising sessions in the Autumn

Fun in the Dales

Summer Outing to Soltaire

Can you help?

NO!

Maybe but how?

Reflect on your preconceptions about asylum seekers and refugees.

Listen with your whole body

Care for the women as a person, not just her physical needs.

Signpost to appropriate statutory and non -statutory services.

Join the Maternity Stream of Sanctuary

The volunteers are the most inspirational women I have ever met!

”

” I picked up the old me that was in the box”

Main Lessons

Never underestimate - - the power of a woman

- the love of a mother for her children

- or the capacity of a woman who has suffered to help others.

- Mums are amazing!