This weekend I came across a very interesting video from the White Ribbon Alliance. The issue was on respectful maternity care. Working in the field, I've certainly seen some questionable things over the years, though thankfully the vast majority of the health professionals I work with treat mothers with respect. This isn't the case everywhere or with everyone.
Then I realized, not everyone knows what respectful care looks like in birth. Do you know that you have the right to ask questions? Take time to think, discuss and process decisions? Get a second opinion? Even refuse care? Being denied these rights is one form of disrespectful care.
It's also important to point out that disrespectful care can happen in big hospitals, small hospitals, wealthy countries and developing countries. It can be all types of providers providing disrespectful care, either knowingly or unknowingly. But you do have rights.
Many women on't know who to tell. Or if they have talked to someone, they've been told that that's just the way it is, or that they should be happy they have a healthy baby. But that doesn't make this type of care right. Watch the video. Read the website for more tools and information.
Have you ever been treated disrespectfully in labor or pregnancy? Have you ever witnessed this type of care? Share your story in the comments.
Do you expect respect when having your baby? originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Sunday, July 22nd, 2012 at 16:19:56.
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