Informed Consent

Even if you decide not to hire a Doula to support you during labor, here's a tip to advocate for yourself to your caregiver:  If your caregiver desires to intervene with your natural labor process, I encourage you and/or your partner to ask the following questions!

• What are the risks associated with this intervention?
• Is the situation "urgent"? What happens if we wait?
• Are there alternatives? Is there something else we can try?
• What "problem" are you trying to "fix"?  What happens next if it doesn't "work"?
• What would happen if we do nothing?

This is called getting Informed Consent from your caregiver (OB, mid-wife, etc.).  It is what is required before intervention is enacted.  Many interventions do come with risks and sadly, interventions often lead to other interventions (like a domino effect).  Make sure you are in the know!  It is your body, your baby, your birth experience after all :)