CincyBabies

A Birth Vision is a written means of clarifying your hopes and expectations for your labor, birth, and the first 2 hours of care for your baby. Outlining it carefully and thoughtfully is your only insurance for shaping your very best birth experience. Fairy Tale  births are created, not encountered!

A Birth Vision should not be worded in an adversarial manner.  However, this is your body and your baby, so don’t be afraid to ask for and pursue the options you would like made available to you.  Constantly remind yourself that your care provider is your employee; they are working for you, so treat each conversation you have with them accordingly.

The condescending statement, “the goal is to have a healthy baby” is used over and over to shut down women’s requests.  Because informed mothers never make decisions without thinking about the health of their baby, to suggest otherwise is insulting, degrading, and disrespectful.  What’s best for women is best for babies.   So the goal really is to have a healthy family.

As you start discussing your preferences with your care provider you may be surprised and disappointed to find that they don’t have the same philosophies about birth that you do.  Don’t be afraid to ask, “why?” if they tell you something is not an option in their practice. If you share your evidence-based research with them they might change their mind, or at least be willing to make a compromise.

Don’t be afraid to be specific about your goals and expectations.  As you gain more knowledge make clear defined plans.  Outline your goals and expectations as precisely as possible – the less left up in the air, the better.

Please remember, informed choice, including informed refusal is your right as a patient. Your right to informed consent, as well as the right to refuse treatment are supported by constitutional law.

An essential element for a rewarding birth experience is for your relationship with your care provider to be based on mutual honesty, trust, and shared decision-making.  Inviting your care provider to be your partner, rather than seeing them as your “boss”, ultimately allows them to function at their best.

Today’s woman has unprecedented access to the information you need to make the best decisions for yourself, and therefore, the best decisions for your baby.  Don’t trade away your motherly instincts to the medical community.  Consider making this your mantra:

It’s my birth,

My body,

My choice.

Because research has proven many children can remember their births, you should ask yourself, “If I were my baby, fully aware and conscious, how would I want to be born?”

Remember, it’s not your job to be a good patient; it’s your job to be a good parent!