Is self-advocacy universally achievable for patients? The experiences of Australian women with cardiac disease in pregnancy and postpartum.

While the women encountered significant barriers to self-advocating, they were resilient and ultimately developed strategies to be heard and to advocate on their own behalf and that of other women. Findings can be used to identify ways to support women to self-advocate and to provide adequately resourced and culturally safe environments to enable healthcare professionals to provide person-centred care.