Perinatal Care for Trans and Nonbinary People Birthing in Heteronormative Maternity Services: Experiences and Educational Needs of Professionals

Childbearing trans and nonbinary people are confronted with the heteronormative and cisgender frameworks that underpin maternity services. We explored the educational needs of 108 perinatal staff in the United Kingdom as related to the needs of trans and nonbinary service users. Participants were most confident in formulating care plans and least confident about the provision of colleagues' perinatal care in this context. While the majority of participants were positive toward the trans and nonbinary communities, they considered that those communities remain marginalized in perinatal services. Transphobic, anti-trans, and nonbinary attitudes were highlighted by our respondents. Our findings suggest that caregivers witnessed transphobia among colleagues and were apprehensive themselves about providing care to childbearing trans and nonbinary people. They reported a cisheteronormative model of care that lacked awareness of trans and nonbinary issues. The educational needs identified included information about the practicalities of childbearing as a trans or nonbinary person, how to use inclusive language effectively, and creating policies and processes for supporting childbearing trans and nonbinary people. These caregivers' preferences included hearing from trans and nonbinary people and sharing best practices among themselves, with open discussions about how to be inclusive.

Automated summary

Childbearing trans and nonbinary people face challenges in maternity services due to heteronormative and cisgender frameworks. A study of perinatal staff in the UK highlighted their lack of confidence in providing perinatal care to trans and nonbinary individuals. The participants recognized the marginalization of these communities and reported witnessing transphobic attitudes among colleagues. The educational needs identified include practical information about childbearing as trans or nonbinary, using inclusive language, and developing policies for supporting this population.