BACKGROUND:
Maternity care in Aotearoa (New Zealand) is fully funded and underpinned by midwifery continuity of care from conception to six weeks postpartum. Yet, little research examines how postnatal care within this model meets the needs of diverse birthing communities. Health research design is seldom informed by the wide diversity of service-users, resulting in findings that fail to include the experiences of marginalised and minority communities.

OBJECTIVES:
To develop a roadmap for inclusive midwifery research design guided by the experiences of women, gender-diverse people, and families in Aotearoa.

METHODS:
The Postnatal Care in Aotearoa study is a collaboration between midwives and maternity service-user researchers to explore expectations and experiences of postnatal care from a continuity-of-care midwife. A diverse research team engaged with over 20 stakeholder organisations and individuals – including Māori (indigenous people of Aotearoa), Pacific Island, former refugee, migrant, disabled, LGBTQIA+, and rural communities – to co-develop the project’s priorities, research questions, and study design.

RESULTS:
The researchers’ ‘insider status’ and trusted networks fostered strong stakeholder engagement. Stakeholders affirmed the critical importance of researching postnatal care experiences and shaped a study design that embedded accessibility, inclusivity and cultural safety. Features included easy-to-read and plain language resources, inclusive and affirming language, flexible participant-led interview options, trauma-informed methodologies, and practising continuous consent.

CONCLUSIONS:
Initial findings suggest our diverse, networked research team and early engagement with multiple communities supported a research design that centred participant voice and relevance. This approach enabled meaningful participation across groups typically underrepresented in midwifery research.

KEY MESSAGE:
Stakeholder co-designed research by diverse and inclusive teams is possible and represents a positive direction for midwifery and maternity care research to take to ensure it remains relevant and transformative for all birthing communities. Poster session 1 (Group A)