Tackling Bias and Discrimination in Perinatal Care

by Guest Blogger Louise O’Reilly

Perinatal care practitioners play a pivotal role in one of the most transformative times of their clients' lives. It’s a role that carries both responsibility and opportunity—the opportunity to provide a truly inclusive, respectful, and supportive experience for families from all backgrounds. Yet, even with the best intentions, unconscious biases and subtle forms of discrimination can impact the quality of care, especially for clients from marginalised communities like LGBTQIA+ individuals, Indigenous populations, immigrants, and other diverse groups.

Understanding and actively addressing these biases is essential for creating safe and inclusive spaces for all. This blog explores the types of biases that can arise in perinatal care and offers some practical steps for practitioners to recognise and reduce these biases in their work.

Why Addressing Bias in Perinatal Care Matters

Biases, whether conscious or unconscious, can lead to misunderstandings and can create barriers that make clients feel unwelcome or unsupported. In perinatal care, these biases may surface in unexpected ways—through assumptions about family structures, cultural practices, or preconceived notions of what’s “normal” for different backgrounds. Without awareness, these biases can unintentionally impact trust, communication, and ultimately the quality of care.

By actively working to recognise and address bias, practitioners can foster a more inclusive environment that supports clients in feeling valued, respected, and safe during their perinatal journey.

Types of Bias Practitioners Might Encounter

Bias is complex and multi-layered, but breaking it down can help us better understand and address it. Here are a few key types of bias to be aware of:

Implicit vs. Explicit Bias: Implicit biases are unconscious associations or attitudes toward different groups, while explicit biases are consciously held beliefs. Both can influence our decisions and interactions, even if unintentionally.

Common Biases in Perinatal Care: Specific biases may arise in perinatal settings, such as:

• Family Structure Assumptions: Assuming all clients have a certain family setup, like a heterosexual couple, can alienate LGBTQIA+ families or single parents.

• Cultural Beliefs: Misunderstandings or generalisations about cultural practices can lead to strained interactions or less effective support.

• Stereotypes Around Marginalised Groups: Stereotyping can lead to assumptions about what clients may need, feel, or value, and these assumptions can interfere with truly personalised care.

When these biases go unchecked, they can prevent practitioners from building strong, trusting relationships with clients and may even lead to unequal care.

Practical Tips to Recognise and Mitigate Bias

Awareness and small changes in daily practice can go a long way in creating a more inclusive experience for clients. Here are some starting points:

• Self-Reflection and Awareness Exercises: Regular self-reflection is key to recognising biases. Try using guided journaling prompts to explore any assumptions or judgments that may arise during interactions with clients from diverse backgrounds. Questions like, “What assumptions did I make in today’s session, and where did they come from?” can be powerful in bringing awareness to unconscious biases.

• Active Listening Techniques: Active listening means approaching conversations with curiosity rather than assumptions. Practice listening for understanding rather than response, and clarify any questions with open-ended phrases like, “Could you tell me more about that?”

• Engaging in Continuous Education: Inclusivity is an ongoing journey, so it’s important to engage in regular training and discussions about bias. Learning about diverse cultural practices, family dynamics, and the unique needs of marginalised communities can help practitioners approach their work with greater empathy and understanding.

Creating an Inclusive and Safe Environment for All Clients

Inclusivity goes beyond just checking biases—it also means creating a welcoming, safe, and respectful environment for all clients. Here are some practical ways to create a more inclusive space:

• Inclusive Language: Using inclusive language is an easy but powerful way to help clients feel seen. Avoid terms that assume family structures or cultural backgrounds, and instead, use words that embrace all possibilities, like “parents,” “partners,” or “caregivers.” Small language shifts can make a big difference.

• Welcoming Physical or Digital Spaces: In physical spaces, inclusive signage or accessible resources for clients from various backgrounds (e.g., multilingual materials, comfortable seating for different body types, or private spaces for prayer) can signal that all are welcome. For digital settings, ensure accessibility by providing closed captions on videos or offering alternative ways to connect with your content.

• Inclusive Policies and Practices: If possible, include policies that support an inclusive practice, such as having a clear confidentiality policy that assures clients their needs will be respected without judgment. Providing spaces for clients to share their cultural or personal needs without assumptions can also make a significant impact.

A Call to Action for Perinatal Practitioners

Building inclusive and safe spaces for all families is not a one-time task but a continuous journey. By actively reflecting on our biases, embracing inclusivity in our language and policies, and engaging in ongoing learning, we can provide a level of care that is not only compassionate but also culturally responsive and respectful.

To further support your journey toward a more inclusive perinatal practice, download our free checklist: 10 Ways to Make Your Perinatal Practice More Inclusive. This checklist provides simple, actionable steps to make your practice more welcoming and accessible for clients from all backgrounds.

With a commitment to awareness and small changes, you can make a big impact in fostering inclusivity and compassion in your care. Each action, no matter how small, contributes to a greater culture of inclusion that will positively impact every family who walks through your door.

About The Author

Louise O’Reilly is on a mission to revolutionise service-based businesses—especially in the perinatal industry—into spaces that are inclusive, accessible, equitable, and culturally equipped to provide exceptional care to diverse communities. Louise aims to transform the perinatal care industry into a space where every parent and family feels safe, valued, and truly seen. As a proud Warrwa-Noongar woman, Louise has first hand experience of how culturally inappropriate, insensitive, and ill-equipped perinatal services can harm Aboriginal women and families as well as other marginalised families too.

Drawing from her lived experiences and professional expertise as an inclusion, diversity, equity, and allyship coach, Louise works with perinatal practitioners and other business owners to bridge those gaps. She empowers them to create practices that are not only culturally safe but also set the standard for excellence in care for clients from diverse backgrounds.

With a compassionate and practical approach, Louise helps perinatal businesses navigate complex topics like cultural competency, unconscious bias, and inclusive service delivery. Her goal is simple: to ensure no client feels the way she once did—unseen, unsupported, and unsafe.

When she’s not working, Louise enjoys spending time with her family, painting, gardening, and nurturing her vision of a more inclusive world. She is determined to guide the perinatal industry to become a beacon of care for every family, no matter their background.