Table 1.

Themes and subthemes identified in the analysis of interviews with LD women about their experience of care during pregnancy, childbirth and afterwards

Key themes	Subthemes
‘I hate being treated differently’	Positive attitudes and support for choice Negative attitudes and denial of choice Understanding of normal care Suggestions for improvement
‘I find it harder to understand than other people’	Written information Other sources of information Verbal communication with healthcare professionals
‘We've had to prove ourselves’	Family reactions Being judged by professionals Experiencing safeguarding as discrimination
‘Make sure you've got very good support around you’	Family support Professional support

LD, learning disability.