This interactive workshop equips pregnant people, caregivers, doulas, and birth workers with practical trauma-informed tools to strengthen communication, reduce medical dismissal, and create safer maternal care experiences. Many families enter maternity care carrying past trauma, fear, or mistrust, and those emotions can intensify during triage visits, labor and delivery, postpartum concerns, and emergency situations. When communication breaks down, families may be overlooked, minimized, or left without clear escalation options.

Through guided case studies based on real maternal health scenarios, participants will practice how to speak up effectively without being dismissed or labeled “difficult.” Attendees will learn trauma-informed scripts, escalation language, and documentation strategies that support safety and shared decision-making. This session includes hands-on exercises that help families and birth workers confidently communicate symptoms, request reassessment, and navigate urgent moments with clarity, emotional grounding, and empowerment.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Define trauma-informed maternal care and explain how trauma can shape communication, trust, and decision-making in pregnancy and postpartum care.

• Recognize common signs of medical dismissal and communication breakdowns that increase risk for preventable maternal harm.

• Use practical, trauma-informed communication scripts to express concerns clearly, request reassessment, and advocate during high-stress care moments.

• Apply documentation and escalation strategies that support safer care and stronger accountability.

• Practice real-life advocacy tools through interactive case studies, improving confidence in navigating maternal healthcare environments.