First Nations Families and Midwives’ Perspectives on Infant Removal in Mainstream Maternity Settings: A Scoping Review

First Nations families continue to endure profound trauma stemming from the disproportionately high rates of infant (<1 year old) removal, exacerbated by culturally unsafe practices and inadequate support from midwives. This scoping review examines existing literature on the experiences of First Nations families who experience removal of an infant, as well as the perspectives of midwives involved in these removals. A scoping review of online databases identified primary qualitative, or mix-method studies published between 2002 and 2025. Seven publications from Australia, Canada and the United States met the inclusion criteria. Five key themes emerged from the review: (1) The colonial legacy; (2) “It is because I am Aboriginal you know”; (3) The intense emotional toll; (4) No control and (5) The power of honesty. The findings highlight the pervasive absence of culturally safe practices during infant removals and reveal significant challenges midwives face in delivering culturally safe, women-centred care to First Nations families.