#respectfulcare

[improvingbirth]

"We must rapidly begin the shift from a 'thing-oriented' society to a 'person-oriented' society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered." - Martin Luther King, Jr. Pregnant people should be treated as just that: PEOPLE and not objects. #mlkjr #improvingbirth #respectfulcare #makeitthenorm

[charlottedoula]

#Repost @brightheartbirth (@get_repost) ・・・ Informed refusal is the other side of the same coin as informed consent. If you know the risks and benefits there is little anyone can make you do without your consent. If there is something you really aren’t comfortable doing, you almost always have a choice. That choice might not always be clear or implied. If you aren’t comfortable, say so and ask more questions. Im not saying it will be supported or easy, but I do hope you hear that you are in control and you get a say in the things that are done to you. #InformedConsent #InformedRefusal #YourExperience #YouCanSayNo #DoulaSupport #EmpoweredPeople #RespectfulCare #CharlotteDoula #Charlotte #Doula #clt #CharlotteNC #BlackOwnedClt #CharlotteDoulas (at Charlotte, North Carolina)

[improvingbirth]

It's true. And I was reminded of this this week when talking with friend. She was trying to help someone virtually (that didn't hire a doula for support) who seemed to be caught up in what appeared to be an unnecessary induction with a doc that had their trigger finger on the scalpel. The dichotomy makes my heart ache. Birth makes people's true colors come out. #choosewisely #respectfulcare #makeitthenorm (Image credit: @BigBellyServices)

[improvingbirth]

Hmm...oh really? ;) "CONCLUSION: Women with low-risk singleton pregnancies who were allowed to eat more freely during labor had a shorter duration of labor. A policy of less-restrictive food intake during labor did not influence other obstetric or neonatal outcomes nor did it increase the incidence of vomiting. Operative delivery rates were similar." For the abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28178059 #evidencebasedcare #respectfulcare #makeitthenorm #knowbetterdobetter #research #abstract #article #pregnancy #labor #ethical #ethics

[improvingbirth]

Meet Megan! Actually you already have met her. She submitted a photo for the #breakthesilence campaign in 2015. Listen to what she has to share about her recent birth. (Congratulations on the VBA3C!) . . . "This [See the second image on IG] is my Break the Silence photo, and I just wanted to update that nearly 2 years later, I just had a healing VBA3C. I found providers who respected my autonomy and right to informed consent and refusal. I was the first at this practice to have a trial of labor after 3 cesareans, as far as I know. I could tell it was a bit out of their comfort zone at times, but I was always respected every time I refused an intervention and when I eventually requested some. A relative told a doctor she met that I was planning to drive [a distance to another hospital], and this doctor said that wasn't necessary, that their practice would see me. She was was actually one of the attendings over the residency program at the hospital. I honestly would've never thought to try there on my own. I mainly saw her or the other attendings during my pregnancy. During labor the residents I previously met seemed so supportive as well, said they had been waiting for me, that they knew my goal was a VBAC, and that's what they wanted for me. Afterwards they said how excited they were for me. This great residency program makes me excited about the future of obstetrics - residents that were really highlighting patient autonomy. Hopefully more residency programs will follow suit. We have another teaching hospital nearby where I don’t think I would have even had a chance to attempt a VBAC. Following my last was such an emotional road to recovery that I even considered not having any more children. I'm so glad I didn't let that stop me! I'm so happy to have our fourth baby and finally a birth that doesn't make me feel sad, but empowered instead." - Megan in the southeastern U.S. #vbac #vba3c #respectfulcare #makeitthenorm #improvingbirth #improvebirth

[improvingbirth]

There are some days where we cannot believe women are not supported in their informed decision making regarding where, when, and with whom they birth. Respect should be the norm, right?? Then there are other days where we hear from mothers who are sent letters (yes - PLURAL!) from a provider's office they no longer want to oversee their prenatal care, an office that does not want to accept the break up. Let's review the facts: 1. You, the birthing person, are in charge of what happens to your body. 2. You have the right to change providers at any point during your pregnancy or labor. 3. You have the right to informed consent and informed refusal, the right to make the best choice for you and your baby. When we all see women as capable of making their own informed choices and when childbearing people are universally treated with respect and dignity, then we will see maternity care in the United States turn around. Until then, letters like this one sent certified mail will continue to be sent by providers that do not see women as autonomous beings. More on this mother's story later tonight! #respectfulcare #makeitthenorm ***Edited to add: This providers office did not know what type of midwife the woman transferred to for her care. They assumed a 'lay midwife.' Also, note that the mother did not ask anything of them regarding attending or being associated with her plan for a homebirth.

[improvingbirth]

We are almost to 10% of our #GivingTuesday fundraising goal! Help us get to 50% by lunchtime. Share, repost, and invite your friends to match your contribution. https://www.facebook.com/donate/450799755448406 Link in profile! #linkinprofile #linkinbio #improvingbirth #maternitycare #respectfulcare #makeitthenorm #wecandobetter https://www.instagram.com/p/BqsEwpwHYIL/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=18at8bj65p5ps

[improvingbirth]

We have to talk about the things that make us uncomfortable if we ever expect a change. The maternal and infant loss, the disrespect and abuse during pregnancy and labor/birth, the lack of informed consent and refusal, the routine practices that are not evidence-based care. . "Without critique, there will be no change." . #improvingbirth #wecandobetter #respectfulcare #makeitthenorm #breakthesilence https://www.instagram.com/p/BpiP618nEIZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=t1z2egmczomt

[improvingbirth]

Use your voices! Continue to speak up about your experience, about the injustices you've witnessed, about what respectful evidence-based care is really about. Break the silence, and share your story. Thank you to all of those parents who have shared thus far. YOU matter. Change matters. Birth matters. And continuing to use our voices WILL collectively bring about change. https://improvingbirth.org/resources/#accountability-toolkit We will not be silenced. #breakthesilence #respectfulcare #makeitthenorm

[improvingbirth]

Planning on a VBAC for your next birth? Here are some helpful tips to finding a provider that supports you and your goal to VBAC. https://improvingbirth.org/2016/09/10-steps-to-finding-a-vbac-supportive-provider/ #vbac #respectfulcare #makeitthenorm #improvingbirth

[improvingbirth]

You've been faithfully following Kimberly's story and assault case against her doctor for nearly three years. Join us for a live interview and update with Kimberly herself Wednesday at 10am Pacific/1pm Eastern. TO REGISTER: http://bit.ly/kimberly-update (There is no charge to participate, but registration is required.) #kellysaidno #breakthesilence #improvingbirth #obstetricviolence #obstetricabuse #episiotomy #birthrights #womensrights #respectfulcare #makeitthenorm