Obstetric handling of a deaf patient.

We report our experience of obstetric handling of a deaf pregnant patient antenatally, in labor and postpartum. The patient was deaf from childhood. The attending obstetrician had no training in the necessary skills for communication with the deaf. Fortunately, the patient could read and write English very well and communication was carried out through pen and paper. This proved to be difficult, time-consuming and required a lot of patience. The clinical, psychological and human aspects of the management were gratifying. The patient brought up interesting aspects that need to be considered when dealing with similar patients. Experience of deaf mothers and their ingenious approaches in dealing with babies, in the postpartum period, are quoted in this communication.