13 Patient Rights Every Birthing Momma Has

Know Your Rights series part 3 of 4

Do not let your caregiver bully you into giving up your rights for their convenience.

You have rights. It is important in a time where POLICIES are being placed before patient rights to know what your rights are.

Discuss your rights and your birth preferences with your caregiver early on. You may even want to interview potential caregivers before your pregnancy to determine who might be a good fit for you.

Download your free birth plan worksheet here!

**As with all procedures and interventions, please do your own research and decide if the results of the procedure outweigh the associated risks.

In my last blog, we discussed that you have the right to request to have Pitocin turned off at any point, eat and drink whenever you feel hungry and thirsty, and get out of bed whenever you want.

This week, we are going to discover that

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO

• Labor in any position you want to
• Push in whatever position you want
• Have a vaginal birth after a caesarian section

You Have the Right to Labor in Any Position that You Want to.

When you are admitted to the hospital, the typical scenario is that you are checked for dilation and hooked up to the monitors and machines.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO STAY THERE!

As a patient, you have the right to get out of that bed. You can request that the monitors be taken off so that you can move around freely.

Laying in bed actually works against gravity and your body so that your labor is prolonged and your delivery is harder.

“Movement and positioning in labor work magic. Movement enhances comfort by stimulating the receptors in the brain that decrease pain perception. When contractions become very strong, endorphins are released and pain perception decreases even more.”

Popular positions for labor:

• Standing supported squat
• Sitting in a chair
• Sitting on toilet
• Walking/dancing
• Squatting
• Side-lying
• Standing
• Leaning or kneeling forward with support
• Knee-chest
• Semi-sitting
• On back with legs raised

You Have the Right to Push in Whatever Position that you Want to.

“It is thought that most people giving birth are encouraged to push in a back-lying or semi-sitting position—one that puts weight on the tailbone—because it is more convenient for the care provider during the birth of the baby.“

Actually, the best way to push is in whatever position is most comfortable for you. Most of the laboring positions listed above can be used for pushing as well.

During natural childbirth, you may experience what is called the ejection reflex. Your body will involuntary push, and you will instinctively move into the best position to deliver your baby.

During a medicated birth, you may not feel the urge to push, so your caregivers will possibly instruct you to push and for how long. In this case, it is helpful if you have something to pull on, such as a pushing bar or a towel that your doula or nurse is pulling against.

You can also request to have the epidural turned off so that you can have the sensation of pushing and be able to move into a better position to deliver your baby.

You Have the Right to Have a Vaginal Birth after a Cesarian Section.

One of the most frequent questions that I see in the birth community is “Who knows of a caregiver that will allow a V-BAC (vaginal birth after cesarean).

You do not need permission to attempt a VBAC. You can decide if this is the right option for yourself and your baby.

My biggest recommendation is to do the research for yourself. Even if your current provider is not comfortable attempting a VBAC, it does not mean that a VBAC is not possible, or even not safe.

The rate of successful VBAC is rather high, even if the rate of attempt is low. You can view more information on evidence-based VBAC here.

You may have to do some research to discover a provider that is comfortable with a VBAC. I would also suggest that if you want a birth center or home birth, to look into the laws for the area that you live in. In some places, you cannot have a VBAC at home or a birth center due to the state’s regulations.

Check out part 1 of the series: Know your rights- 13 Rights that Every Birthing Mom has.

Check out part 2of the series: Know your rights- 13 Rights that Every Birthing Mom has.

Stay tuned for part 4 of this series: Know your rights- 13 Rights That Every Birthing Mom Has to read about the following:

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO

• Deliver a breech baby vaginally
• Refuse any major surgery- including a c-section

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/delivery.htm

• Keep your baby’s cord attached to the placenta and unclamped for as long as you want
• Take your placenta home

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