Whether you have written a three page birth plan already or are wikipedia-ing “human birth,” your pregnancy will be filled with bits of new information and vocabulary, and many choices for you to make. This article is a nice starting place to give you a sense of what you may expect during a hospital birth and how you can decrease your risk of needing common procedures.
“As with any medical procedure, you have a right to be informed and consent or decline anything your doctors suggest, or even push for you to agree to. Knowing what these interventions are and the purpose of such procedures before you go into labor will help you make an informed decision prior to being overwhelmed by the imminent arrival of your bundle of joy. Unfortunately, here in America labor and delivery are viewed by the medical community as an accident waiting to happen and many of the interventions are aimed at reducing the chances of problems, as well as convenience for the staff…. By educating yourself and adding your choices about interventions to your birth plan, (and hiring a doula,) you stand a much better chance of having your wishes respected.”
Hospital Birth Step #5: Learning About Routine Interventions in the Hospital – The Birthing Site.
Filed under: Uncategorized, America, baby, birth, birth experience, cesarean, doula, education, gynecologist, hospital, tacoma
Yes, women should know what to expect, for sure! I had a med-free, intervention-free hospital birth with my last child. I love encouragoing women by teaching them that YES, you *can* have a natural birth in a hospital!
http://atlantamomofthree.wordpress.com/natural-childbirth/