Nurturing New Beginnings: Maternity Project Insights

 As part of our wider health and wellbeing offering at ICM our Maternity Project, funded by our local NHS and run by our Integration Team, supports migrant women from the Westgate Ward area of Ipswich, aiming to increase connection, communication and engagement, while building trust in local maternity and health services.

The project delivers workshops in partnership with partner organisations and services, including:

• Community Antenatal Sessions, providing a wide range of information about maternal and newborn care during and after birth.

• Workshops in partnership with local services, aimed at raising awareness, particularly in areas that may still be considered taboo.

• A key aspect of the project is collaboration within the local network to strengthen relationships between healthcare professionals and their patients.

Why is this project important?

Throughout life, we become part of various communities that provide support during difficult times. These connections offer a sense of belonging and guidance when facing challenges.

For migrants, building new connections is key to learning the language, understanding cultural norms, and navigating healthcare and education systems. Adapting to a new country involves more than practical adjustments—it requires meaningful relationships that support integration.

Recent events have reshaped social and economic landscapes, highlighting the importance of strong communities. Change, whether global or personal, can be significant—especially the transition into parenthood.

Parenting brings both joy and difficulties. Rising living costs and housing issues create stress for many in the UK, and migrant families often face additional barriers. Limited language skills, lack of knowledge about rights, and unfamiliarity with healthcare can make accessing support difficult.

ICM works to improve healthcare access by tackling inequalities. Our maternity project offers tailored support to women throughout pregnancy and early motherhood.

At its core are our Community Champions—volunteers from diverse backgrounds who bridge the gap between communities and healthcare services. They provide translation, interpretation, and advocacy, ensuring language and cultural differences do not hinder access to essential care.

These volunteers offer compassionate, high-quality support, guiding families through complex systems while providing emotional encouragement. Their dedication ensures every family feels valued, understood, and empowered.

Some lovely baby donations that went to families in need.

ROMA VOICE CENTRE

From the start, our Maternity Project has worked to support diverse communities in meaningful and practical ways. Recently, we met Aluna Lepadatu from the Roma Voice Centre CIC, a charitable organisation providing essential communication and information for the Roma community in the UK.

The Roma Voice Centre is developing five educational films covering maternity services, employment, welfare, legal support, and higher education. These aim to raise awareness of available services, which many Roma individuals struggle to access due to language barriers and limited literacy. This highlights the need for more inclusive, accessible support systems.

Estimating the Roma population in the UK remains difficult, as the most recent Census lacked a specific category for Roma ethnicity. Many individuals also withhold this information due to historical mistrust and difficulties engaging with authorities.

Our collaboration provided a valuable opportunity to explore approaches to supporting the Roma community. One of our ICM Community Champions shared insights from her work with Roma families, stressing the importance of tailored support. Building trust takes time, requiring respect, patience, and cultural sensitivity. For many, these relationships have taken years to establish.

CHILDHOOD VACCINATION

Vaccination has become a topic of debate, with childhood immunisation rates affected by social, economic, cultural, and logistical barriers. In an era of constant information flow, misinformation—especially on social media—has fuelled confusion and reluctance around vaccines.

To address these challenges and improve uptake, we were invited by Suffolk County Council Public Health and Communities to help identify barriers faced by the families we support. Cultural and religious beliefs can discourage vaccinations, while language barriers make access difficult for migrant and non-English-speaking communities. Without translated materials or culturally sensitive professionals, many struggle to navigate vaccination schedules and understand the benefits.

We are committed to raising awareness and nurturing trust through targeted activities, ensuring families receive accurate information and support. By tackling these barriers collaboratively, we aim to empower families to make informed vaccination decisions, strengthening the health of our entire community.

6-8 WEEKS POSTNATAL CHECK UP

The Maternity Project aims to support women at every stage of their journey while helping healthcare professionals improve communication and accessibility. Recently, we reviewed postnatal check-up invitation letters, which include assessments of maternal health, baby check-ups, and first immunisations.

Examining letters from two GP surgeries, we found that dense text and complex language created barriers for new parents.

Fatigue, stress, language difficulties, and unfamiliarity with healthcare systems can make such communications overwhelming.

We recommended simplifying content to be clear, concise, and accessible, reducing stress while ensuring key information is effectively conveyed. This collaboration highlights the importance of inclusive healthcare communication, making services more approachable for all families.

PELVIC HEALTH

Over recent months, we held pelvic health awareness sessions to break the silence around this often-taboo topic. Many women suffer in silence, told their struggles are just “part of being a mother,” discouraging them from seeking help. Our sessions aimed to challenge misconceptions and encourage women to prioritise their well-being.

To ensure accessibility, we translated materials into multiple languages. While translation tools offer quick solutions, they often miss cultural nuances. To address this, our Community Champions reviewed translations to ensure accuracy and clarity, strengthening trust between women and healthcare providers.

Thanks to this collaboration, we created resources in six languages: Lithuanian, Portuguese, Arabic, Romanian, Urdu, and Polish. Blending technology with human insight made our materials more inclusive and impactful.

By combining these translated resources with in-person support, we aim to empower women to seek help without stigma. This work is a step towards breaking barriers and supporting open discussions about pelvic health.

LET’S TALK READING

On 30th October, we hosted another engaging "Let’s Talk Reading" session for parents and children, emphasising the benefits of reading together, especially for bilingual families. Reading supports vocabulary development, sentence structure, and speech while reducing screen time and strengthening emotional bonds. Books with diverse characters also introduce children to different cultures and perspectives.

One of the older children read aloud to the group, building confidence and presentation skills. Children of all ages engaged in their own ways, and parents explored bilingual books, learning how translation shapes storytelling.

The session also provided a space for parents to share challenges, including communication with medical professionals, navigating the education system, and understanding benefits. We reassured them of the great job they’re doing and offered ongoing support.

By combining expertise, cultural awareness, and practical strategies, we aim to create antenatal sessions that are inclusive, supportive, and accessible for all.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON OUR MATERNITY PROJECT OR TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN JOIN AN ANTENATAL SESSION CONTACT: esol@ipswichcm.org.uk

or call 07883 304 053

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