10: Empower yourself
Educate yourself on all the choices and decide what fits you best. Think through how you envision your birth going. What will it take to make this your ideal birth? Then use your support network to stick to those choices. You can say no. You can ask questions. You can ask for a second opinion. All of these things are within your rights as a patient. Some people may feel uncomfortable going against their doctor’s suggestions, but by empowering yourself with the information you can have the educated discussion with your provider about your choices and wishes and decide together the best course of action.
Educate yourself on all the choices and decide what fits you best. Think through how you envision your birth going. What will it take to make this your ideal birth? Then use your support network to stick to those choices. You can say no. You can ask questions. You can ask for a second opinion. All of these things are within your rights as a patient. Some people may feel uncomfortable going against their doctor’s suggestions, but by empowering yourself with the information you can have the educated discussion with your provider about your choices and wishes and decide together the best course of action.