09/24/2021
"I'm going to check you"
"I'm just going to break your water"
"We're going to start an IV antibiotic"
"You really need to do this right now"
“You’re not allowed to (walk around, eat, fill in the blank…)"
None of these are examples of informed consent.
Informed consent is a legal, human, and ethical right - established by law.
It’s a discussion that includes:
1️⃣ risks (including future potential risks, i.e. repeat cesareans, post-episiotomy pain, impacting s*x life)
2️⃣ benefits
3️⃣ alternatives
Informed consent also includes the right to INFORMED REFUSAL.
That means you have a legal right to say NO at your birth to anything you believe is not in your and baby's best interest.
Your voice counts and what you say matters.
Being guilted into something or otherwise psychologically pressured is a violation of informed consent.
But violations are common and accepted. It’s common for a practitioner to say something like: ‘a good mom would do this’ and ‘you wouldn’t want to harm your baby’ or “I know this is what you want, but my job is to look out for your baby.” Legally YOU are the one who gets to choose for you and baby and LEGALLY that should be without repercussions to you regardless of outcome. YOU get to make the risk-benefit analysis, but that means getting educated ahead of time. And that’s what I’m here to help you do.
If you want to learn what your birth rights are, the difference between birth rights and hospital policy, and more on how to be your own advocate, I invite you to join my FREE pregnancy, birth, and postpartum course via the link in bio.
Once you join, you'll have access to the previously recorded videos (including the one on advocacy), in addition to supplemental PDFs and guided videos - and all of the ongoing classes coming up, plus the ongoing weekly support group.
Speaking up for ourselves, and speaking our truth makes a difference. It’s how every change in healthcare has actually occurred. And never doubt what s group of committed women can do!
