Nurture together: trauma-informed and culturally safe perinatal support for migrant mothers

Abstract

British immigration policies are intended to create a “hostile environment” for “undesirable” migrants within the UK and a deterrence to anyone beyond its borders. The seeping of these policies into everyday life, including healthcare provision, for all migrants has been well documented. This article draws on ethnographic research with migrant women who have precarious immigration statuses in Glasgow, which explored interwoven experiences of maternal health, migration and motherhood. Building on this research, the authors co-developed “Nurture Together”, a participatory project with migrant women and Amma Birth Companions, which created trauma-informed and culturally safe peer support resources for infant feeding. Drawing on both projects, this paper highlights how the hostile environment and the subsequent isolation, discrimination, and fear of unfamiliar social and medical environments can compound the trauma experienced by many women during and after migration to the UK. We emphasise the importance of communities of care for mothers who are not surrounded by their usual perinatal support networks.