Advocacy In The Birth Experience

Raise your hand if you have a hard time advocating for yourself.

For many people, when they become parents, it feels possible to advocate for their children.

However, even in pregnancy, it still can be difficult for birth parents to advocate for themselves.

It is extremely important to find a provider whom you feel heard, supported, and cared by, especially when it comes to childbirth.

Other than physical complications during birth that can be traumatic for a birth parent - such as pre-eclampsia, hemorrhages, or unplanned Cesareans - having an unsupportive provider can also lead to the birth experience feeling traumatic.

Trauma is defined as a negative emotional response to an event, and it can be subjective.

Cheryl Beck, a pioneer in researching childbirth trauma, says trauma is in the “eye of the beholder”.

Beck’s research has shown that traumas in childbirth can look like:

• Perception of lack of caring (e.g., felt abandoned, stripped of dignity, lack of support and reassurance)

• Poor communication (e.g., felt invisible, not heard, not important)

• Feelings of powerlessness (e.g., betrayal of trust, didn’t feel protect by staff, lack of control)

Building a bridge of communication with your provider, by advocating for what you want in your birth experience, is so important.

If advocating for yourself was not modeled for you throughout your life, this may be a new skill that will need to be practiced and honed.

Practicing building a bridge of communication during your pregnancy - whether it be with extended family, coworkers, or doctors - can help you feel more prepared to do so during childbirth.

Above all, trust your gut.

If your intuition is telling you that you do not feel heard by, or safe with, your provider during your pregnancy, please trust that.

It is absolutely OK to find a new provider who you feel best with, so that you can feel nothing but heard, protected, and supported during your birth experience. ❤️