A Guide to Providing LGBTQ+ Inclusive Reproductive Health Care

This practical guide brings together a wide range of evidence-based information and practical tools for midwives, obstetricians and health visitors, empowering them to provide appropriate care throughout the reproductive journeys of LGBTQ+ people.

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This evidence-based guide brings together a wide range of information and practical tools for midwives, obstetricians, nurses, health visitors and birthworkers, empowering them to provide safe and compassionate care throughout the reproductive journeys of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. This book may also be helpful to LGBTQ+ people in their own reproductive journeys.

Throughout history, in cultures around the world, LGBTQ+ people have become pregnant, sought abortion care, miscarried, experienced infertility, given birth, and made decisions about infant feeding. Their reproductive journeys are increasingly visible, reflecting the changing social and legal recognition of sexual and gender minority people as parents. LGBTQ+ people require support during these significant life events which is appropriate, expert, and meets their needs. However, healthcare professionals and birthworkers may not always be confident in working with these clients and may lack understanding of LGBTQ+ clients’ experiences. There is also often insufficient attention paid to differences in the LGBTQ+ non-gestational parents' experiences. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, this book brings together up-to-date research findings from a range of fields including medicine, psychology, sociology, law and public health, to provide a knowledge base and tools to support clients at different stages of pregnancy and parenthood. The book follows the reproductive journey, moving from pre-conception and fertility research, through pregnancy and birth, to postnatal physical and mental healthcare. It also addresses termination care and perinatal loss.

The chapters contain vignettes to personalise the issues discussed, highlights key practice recommendations, and suggestions for further reading. This is an essential guide for student midwives and medical students, as well as health visitors, midwives and obstetricians in practice.