Asylum seekers and maternity

On Thursday 20th March, staff from the five practices that constitute Anfield and Everton PCN watched the film "Best For Baby Too" about the difficulties and challenges experienced by asylum seekers during the maternity process and birth of their baby. This moving account, produced by Liverpool Lighthouse, challenges stereotypes about asylum seekers and highlights problems encountered by many of them, whether or not they are having a baby. It was followed by a Q&A session with some of the women from the film.

You can watch the film here:

Childbirth in the Asylum System | Liverpool Lighthouse

Supporting asylum seekers to receive the same care as everyone else is a priority for the PCN.

Staff from the PCN multidisciplinary service composed a poem of reflections from the film:

Imagine

Imagine leaving your home 
and not knowing if you'll ever be able to go back.
Imagine no possessions, everything you lack.
Imagine love on the inside and fear on the outside.
Imagine having no-one to turn to and nowhere to hide.
Imagine feeling lonely when you most need support.
Imagine choosing medicine over food you could have bought.
Imagine not being part of decisions when your healthcare is being shaped.
Imagine being haunted by memories of the danger you escaped.

Imagine being in a different country, with a new culture and language - how stressful it is, on top of being pregnant and fighting for your and your baby's life.

Imagine living in fear of every knock on the door.
Imagine the sound of the letterbox, brown envelope on the floor.
Imagine giving everything you have for your baby and being unable to give more.
Imagine being scared and unfamiliar with the law.
Imagine having no money for food and supplies.
Imagine trusting people, only to find out it was all lies.
Imagine trying to speak but not knowing what to say.
Imagine going to sleep worrying about how to survive the next day.
Imagine finding a small sense of stability and being told to move away
………….again! 
Imagine not knowing where your baby is going to sleep.
Imagine having no money to pay for your keep.
Imagine struggling to communicate with professionals.
Imagine whispering 'asylum seeker', as if you were in a confessional.

Imagine walking in my shoes.