Can You See Me Now? Transforming Maternity Care Through Inclusive Assessment

Invisibility in healthcare systems has real consequences. For countless women from underrepresented communities, standard maternity assessments fail to capture their unique experiences, leading to poorer outcomes and deepening distrust in healthcare institutions.

At The Essential Baby Co CIC, we're challenging this status quo with our groundbreaking initiative that asks a simple yet powerful question: "Can You See Me Now?" This isn't just a catchy phrase—it's a call for healthcare systems to truly recognize every patient, regardless of their background.

Our initiative targets three critical barriers that have long divided healthcare provision: cultural differences, language obstacles, and socioeconomic factors. By addressing these interconnected challenges, we're creating assessment tools that see beyond superficial characteristics to the whole person.

Breaking Down Cultural Walls

Cultural misunderstandings in maternity care settings don't just create discomfort—they endanger lives. When healthcare professionals lack awareness of specific cultural practices surrounding pregnancy and childbirth, they miss vital information that could impact care decisions.

Our assessment frameworks incorporate cultural intelligence at every step, ensuring that questions are asked in ways that respect diverse beliefs while gathering essential clinical information. This isn't about lowering standards—it's about raising them by making them truly universal.

Through our haPPIE Research Group, we've documented how culturally adapted assessments lead to more accurate diagnoses, better treatment adherence, and stronger patient-provider relationships. These aren't just nice-to-have improvements—they're lifesaving transformations.

Bridging Language Divides

Language barriers extend far beyond simple translation issues. Medical terminology often lacks equivalents in other languages, and concepts around health and wellbeing can vary dramatically across cultures.

Our assessment tools employ innovative approaches to communication that transcend word-for-word translation. We use visual aids, simplified language structures, and culturally relevant examples to ensure that every mother truly understands her care options and can make informed decisions.

This work stems directly from our commitment to equity—ensuring fair access to healthcare services and education for all. When a mother can fully participate in conversations about her care, outcomes improve dramatically for both her and her baby.

Addressing Socioeconomic Realities

Traditional maternity assessments often assume a baseline of resources and support that simply doesn't exist for many families. Questions about nutrition, home environment, and support systems can miss the mark entirely when socioeconomic factors aren't considered.

Our reformed assessment practices acknowledge these realities without judgment, creating space for honest conversations about resources and needs. This approach allows healthcare providers to connect mothers with appropriate support services while maintaining dignity and respect.

Through our community-based initiatives, we've shown that addressing socioeconomic factors isn't just compassionate—it's cost-effective. Early intervention based on comprehensive assessment prevents costly complications and builds community resilience.

From Standardization to Personalization

The future of maternity care isn't found in one-size-fits-all approaches. Our initiative demonstrates that personalized, equitable care can be accessible to every community without sacrificing clinical excellence.

By turning lived experience into practical, culturally-rooted tools, we're closing maternal health equity gaps at community scale. Our approach uniquely blends co-produced, culturally intelligent education with an entrepreneurial midwifery workforce model, delivering measurable gains at both grassroots and system levels.

This isn't just theory—it's transformation in action. As we expand our work through the haPPIE Academy and strengthen partnerships with healthcare institutions, we're creating a movement that ensures every mother is truly seen, heard, and supported throughout her maternity journey.

The question remains: "Can You See Me Now?" With each assessment reformed, each provider trained, and each community empowered, the answer increasingly becomes "Yes, we can."