"I asked him what the benefits/risks were to Cytotec and he said 'there are no risks.'" "She said my uterus was like an 'old tire.'" "My provider kept talking over me to my partner, trying to get him to convince me of something he wanted us to do." "They said I would be responsible if anything happened to my baby over the weekend when I wouldn't consent to an elective induction." "My provider laughed at my requests when I showed her my birth preferences."
Has your provider said anything like this to you? If so, you're not alone. Pay close attention to how your provider speaks to you, their body language, etc. Sometimes in this culture, we're taught not to rock the boat in the face of "authority", and it can be really hard to speak up.
PAY ATTENTION TO THESE RED FLAGS - Defensiveness - Belittling - Manipulation - Avoidance - Feelings not facts
If you're beginning to feel uncomfortable with your provider, consider finding one that's more on the same page as you. Reach out to your local birth community (doulas, childbirth educators, online forums like Facebook) to get recommendations from providers in your area. We know that for many people, "choice" is an illusion. If you're finding that you don't have many options in your area, try to find a doula to support you and use these tips: Ask for time to think - If it's not an emergency, you should be able to ask for time to discuss your options with your partner, and think about what you want to do.
Use your BRAIN - Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition, what if we do Nothing?
Know your rights - Learn more about patient rights here
Understand what informed decision making is - Download our handout on Informed Decision Making here: Handout_-_Informed_Decisions.pdf We're here to help ❤️ Amy
Amy is a childbirth assistant (doula), artist, birth activist, mother of six, and founder of Motherboard Birth. Ever since the birth of her first daughter, Amy has been passionate about guiding families through the challenging landscape of their birth experience.