Appendix 4 Interview schedule for individual interviews

Thank you for taking part in this study, are you happy to proceed with the interview?
Could you tell me about your disability?
Can I explore your experiences of the maternity services? (during pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood)
1. What pregnancy is this? How many children do you have?
2. Could you discuss the background to your pregnancy? (prompt: planned/ unplanned)
3. How was /who confirmed your pregnancy?
4. What model/type of antenatal care did you have? (prompt: CANC, hospital only, home birth, Domino)
5. Did you experience any challenges getting to and from the hospital, GP clinic, health service?
Can you tell me about your first antenatal visit?
1. Can you tell me about the infrastructure/physical environment (prompt: access, challenges)
2. Can you tell me about the interaction with the health professionals (prompt: attitudes you may have come across, communication methods, interpersonal skills)
3. Can you tell me about the information you received?
4. Was an assessment of needs conducted? (prompt: specific needs discussed and/or identified)
5. Were you referred to other departments/professionals? (prompt: physio, MSW, patient services)
Can you tell me about your subsequent antenatal care?
1. Model of care/where did you have the care? hospital, Domino, ETH, homebirth
2. How often were your visits?
3. Did you experience any problems getting to and from the hospital, GP clinic, health clinic?
4. Can you tell me about the infrastructure/physical environment ? (prompt: access, challenges)
5. Were you orientated to the environment?
6. Can you tell me about the waiting area and the call/appointments system?
7. Can you tell me about the interaction with the health professionals (prompt: attitudes you may have come across, communication methods, interpersonal skills, awareness of disability and related issues)
8. Can you tell me about any investigations you had? (prompt: scan, hearing fetal heart, screening)
9. Were things explained to you?
10. Were findings explained to you?
11. Did the health professionals appear knowledgeable about your disability?
12. Did the health professionals collaborate with each other? (prompt: obstetricians, neurologists, midwives, physiotherapists, prosthetic nurse)
13. Do you think your disability took precedence over your pregnancy?
14. Were your specific needs determined?
15. Were your specific needs addressed?
16. Were you referred to other departments/professionals? (prompt: physio, MSW, anaesthetist)
17. Was a birth plan discussed and developed?
18. How did you keep in contact with the hospital? (prompt: telephone, email, text, fax, minicom)
Can you tell me what communication aids did the HPs use? (prompt: sign language interpreter, pictures, Braille)
Can you tell me about the information you were provided with?
1. Format (prompt: visual/CD, audio, written, Braille)
2. Explanation
3. Antenatal classes
  - Where were they provided?
  - Were they accessible?
  - Did they address your specific needs?
  - Exchange of information - appropriate strategies used?
Did you receive any practical assistance? (prompt: to get to antenatal clinic, midwifery staff, portering staff)
Did you receive adequate reassurance? (prompt: scan if VI, fetal heart if HI)
Can you tell me about your experiences during childbirth?
1. Model of care? hospital, Domino, home birth
2. How did you recognise you were in labour?
3. Did you have a birth plan?
4. Can you tell me about the infrastructure/physical environment ?(prompt: access, challenges)
5. Were you orientated to the environment?
6. Can you tell me what communication aids did the HPs use? (prompt: sign language interpreter, pictures, Braille)
7. Were your specific needs determined?
8. Were your specific needs addressed?
9. Choice (prompt: pain relief, positions in labour)
10. Issue of consent (VI, HI)
11. Monitoring (prompt: fetal heart, CTG)
12. Support and assistance
13. Reassurance
14. Did the health professionals appear knowledgeable about your disability?
15. Did the health professionals collaborate with each other? (prompt: obstetricians, neurologists, midwives, physiotherapists, prosthetic nurse)
16. Do you think your disability took precedence over your pregnancy?
Can you tell me about your experiences during the postnatal period?
1. Model of care - hospital, Domino, ETH, home birth
2. Can you tell me about the infrastructure/physical environment ?(prompt: access, challenges)
3. Were you orientated to the environment?
4. Can you tell me about the interaction with the health professionals (prompt: attitudes you may have come across, communication methods, interpersonal skills, awareness of disability and related issues)
5. Did the health professionals appear knowledgeable about your disability?
6. Did the health professionals collaborate with each other? (prompt: obstetricians, neurologists, midwives, physiotherapists, prosthetic nurse)
7. Do you think your disability took precedence over your new role as mother/parent?
8. Were your specific needs determined?
9. Were your specific needs addressed?
10. Practical support and assistance received?
11. Information received/quality of and format?
12. Issue of consent (VI, HI)
13. Parenting skills (prompt: feeding, bathing, bonding)
14. Reassurance
15. Were you referred to other departments/professionals? (prompt: physio, MSW, PHN)
16. Can you tell me about preparing for going home?
  - Links with voluntary/community agencies?
  - Information about support aids?
  - Follow up for mother and baby (prompt: six week examination)
  - Screening and immunisation programme (prompt: breast examination, cervical screening, PKU, immunisations)
Can you tell me about your experiences with the Public Health Nurse?
1. Access to health centre
2. Knowledge
3. Communication
4. Support
5. Reassurance
6. Parenting skills/issues around ability to parent?