Tips for Choosing an Obstetrician for Mothers With Physical Disabilities

Good doctors can be hard to find. But for those with physical disabilities, it can be even more challenging to find one who can provide the care they need. This can be particularly true for expectant mothers who have physical disabilities.

In many cases, women with physical disabilities are capable of having healthy pregnancies. Having a disability doesn’t necessarily make a pregnancy high risk. However, inadequate care and support during pregnancy can increase the risk of complications and, unfortunately, many expectant mothers with physical disabilities often struggle to find obstetricians who fully understand their needs. 

Sometimes, they find that a doctor’s office isn’t very accessible, both in terms of overall office design and in terms of available equipment, lacking things like accessible scales and exam tables. In an article published by Brandeis, several women with physical disabilities they interviewed said they were never weighed by their doctors during their pregnancy because of a lack of accessible scales or had people try to guess their weight by looking at them instead of using a scale. Or in some cases, a doctor might not be experienced in working with patients with disabilities or allow misconceptions to shape their attitudes toward patients with disabilities. 

All of these are issues that can harm the quality of care a patient receives throughout their pregnancy. So what can you do to make sure you choose a good doctor?

Tips for Finding the Right Doctor

As you look for a good obstetrician, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Ask about how much experience they have working with patients who have disabilities and whether or not they’re able to learn more about your particular disability if they need to. If your disability may impact your pregnancy, feel free to ask questions about any potential complications. Ideally, the doctor will be able to clearly answer any questions you have and address all of your concerns, leaving you feeling comfortable and confident in their abilities to care for you and your baby. 

Another good idea is to reach out to other mothers with disabilities in your area to see if they can recommend a good obstetrician. Not only can this help point you in the right direction of a supportive, knowledgeable doctor, it can help you receive valuable moral support during and after your pregnancy. Unfortunately, even though there are lots of websites, magazines, and books out there about pregnancy, many mainstream publications don’t address the experiences of disabled mothers.

Contact a Michigan Birth Trauma Lawyer

Receiving high quality medical care throughout pregnancy and during labor and delivery is extremely important for the overall wellbeing of both mother and child. If a doctor fails to provide adequate care, it can potentially result in complications that lead to birth trauma. 

Birth trauma cases can be very complex, so it’s important to have an experienced lawyer on your side who can answer all your questions and make sure your case is handled correctly. At Goodwin & Scieszka, you’ll be able to talk to a Michigan-based birth trauma lawyer who has helped many people like you. Contact us today to get started.