As you progress further into your pregnancy, you’ve likely read some books, considered or completed childbirth education, and learned a few new things. Most importantly, you’re likely becoming more confident in your own heart about your preferences when it comes to birth care. How is your midwife’s or doctor’s care resonating with you? We discussed the specifics of choosing your care provider and building your birth team in Week 9 and Week 15, so feel free to revisit those details, especially if you’re new to Spinning Babies®.
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If you feel unclear, check out the 12 Steps to Safe and Respectful MotherBaby-Family Maternity Care by the International Childbirth Initiative (ICI) or the Rights of Childbearing Women by Childbirth Connection. Then, consider the following:
- Do you feel empowered? Information about best maternity care practices is important, and so is serenity. Relationships of trust within the birth team are helpful.
- Do you feel equal? A care provider who is comfortable in a cooperative relationship shares responsibility with the woman giving birth. Women have a dynamic role in their own maternity care.
- Is your voice being heard? You need the clarity and courage to ask questions and state your needs and desires in a way that recognizes your own worth and that of your birth team. Are you communicating? Are you being heard?
Communication can feel difficult, especially in a relationship where you might feel the care provider has more power or information than you. Remember, this is a reciprocal relationship. Your care provider is part of your team — not an adversary. After attempting to communicate any questions you have, know that it is rarely too late to switch care providers, if that feels right to you. Sometimes we hear things like, “Well, I’ll just stick with this person this time and consider different choices next time.” If your heart points in a different direction now, why wait? You’ll birth this baby just once. Listen to your intuition.
