title: Learning about having a baby in easy English.
abstract: Limited English ability hampers communication between pregnant women and midwives and can leave the pregnant woman anxious and put the mother or baby at risk. This article describes a new antenatal course called Learn about having a baby in easy English which has been successfully used with women who have very little English or are only moderately fluent. The 12-hour programme is designed to help women understand essential antenatal information, learn key English vocabulary and gain confidence in communicating in English with health professionals. It is co-taught by a midwife and English teacher and uses simple handouts. After running for three years, indicators suggest that it is playing a useful part in equipping women for labour and motherhood.
authors.affiliation: Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hansford
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forsdike
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007802:Language; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods*; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D006113:United Kingdom