Your Rights
"If you don't know your options, then you don't have any."
- Diana Korte
"Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers; strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength."
- Barbara Katz Rothman
"Normal birth is indeed possible."
- Bruce Flamm, MD
Your Rights
Every woman has the right of informed consent before any medical procedure is done. This means every woman should understand what the procedure is, why it needs to be done and what the risks involved are. Many women are stripped of their right to make informed decisions about what they want done to their body's. If things are done without consent, it is a form of assault on your body.
It is very important to do your own research on the options that are available during childbirth. In order for you to give informed consent you must be presented with all the information, understand the information that has been disclosed, voluntarily agree and be competent to make the decision.
Question you should ask your caregiver:
What is the procedure being done?
Why does it need to be done?
What is the procedure going to accomplish?
What are the risks involved?
What are the benefits?
Are there other options and what are their risks and benefits?
What will happen if it doesn't have its desired affect?
What will happen if we do nothing?
How long do I have to make a decision?
Check out this article: Avoiding "Good Patient" Syndrome
