Motherhood and women experiencing disability

Women with impairment experience disability in many aspects of life. A stigma still exists towards them becoming mothers with these women sometimes being regarded as asexual and not capable of being mothers. Such attitudes may influence the quality and appropriateness of care and support provided by health professionals.

To date little research has been carried out, and none in New Zealand, to indicate or respond to the facilitators and barriers to pregnancy, birth and motherhood for women with impairments.

To explore this area, our team of researchers from AUT University, Unitec and the University of Auckland, are undertaking a study to identify and explore, from a woman’s perspective, the experiences of considering motherhood, the factors and people who influenced women’s decisions around whether or not to become a mother, and for those who decided to pursue motherhood, the experiences during pregnancy, birth and early childcare.

We would like to talk to women aged 18 to 45 years who live with a physical or sensory impairment and, in the last five years, have experienced pregnancy, birth and motherhood. We would also like to talk to women with impairments who have not pursued motherhood for whatever reason (including those who have had the choice taken away from them).

We will be preparing a report for the Health Research Council and we hope to present our findings to relevant and interested groups. Our study aims to improve outcomes and service processes for women with physical and sensory impairment during and after pregnancy. It will identify physical, emotional and social issues that arise for them through pregnancy, birth and mothering their pre-school children. Further it will identify and develop strategies to minimize avoidable disabling consequences in order to promote wellbeing for the woman with impairment, her child and her family.

Our research team will be holding interviews and focus groups in the following regions: Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Gisborne, Wellington, Christchurch, Greymouth, Dunedin and Invercargill. We are now recruiting in the Auckland area.

If you would like to take part in our study or if you would like to find out more about it, please contact one of our team members:

Free Phone number 0508 WOMENDIS or 0508 966 363
Bernadette Guerin: Ph: (09) 921 9731 or Email:
Dr Debbie Payne: Ph: (09) 921 9999, Ext 7112 or Email:

This study is funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand