Home Sweet Home Birth Handouts

THE PREGNANT WOMAN'S BIRTHING BILL OF RIGHTS

The pregnant woman has the right:

1. To choose her place of birth.

2. To choose her birth practitioner and to be fully informed of her practitioner’s qualifications and experience.

3. To choose who will be present at her birth and the right to refuse entry or to ask anyone to leave her place of birth.

4. To literature and information about birth and particularly homebirth.

5. To know her practitioner's methods and techniques of birth.

6. To know the approximate costs which will be incurred under her practitioners care.

7. To expect that any information she gives her practitioner will be confidential and not divulged to anyone else without her permission.

8. To comprehensive antenatal care including access to standard tests and procedures related to the well-being of mother and child.

9. Prior to the administration of any drug, medication, procedure or test, to be informed by her practitioner of any direct or indirect effects, risks or hazards to herself or her unborn or newborn baby.

10. To determine for herself whether she will accept the risks inherent in a proposed therapy, drug or procedure.

11. To choose how she gives birth and to be treated with dignity and consideration at all times so that she feels free to follow her instinctive reactions during birth.

12. To medical backup support when needed.

13. If transferred to the hospital, to be treated with respect and courtesy and to be accompanied by her practitioner and support persons of her choice.

14. If transferred to the hospital, not to be separated from her infant except for valid medical reasons.

15. To comprehensive postnatal care including support for the establishment of breastfeeding, assessment and care of her newborn infant and information about relevant screening tests and registration of birth.

16. To be informed if there is any known or indicated aspect of her or her baby's care or condition which may cause her or her baby later problems.

17. Of access to her and her baby's records and to receive a copy of her notes when desired.

18. In the event of an unexpected outcome to her pregnancy or birth to receive all the additional support and services that she needs.

19. To complain and receive satisfaction from her practitioner.

As the pregnant woman has rights, so she also has responsibilities.

THE PREGNANT WOMAN'S BIRTHING BILL OF RESPONSIBILITIES

The pregnant woman is responsible for:

1. Learning about the physical, psychological and emotional process of labor, birth and postpartum recovery.

2. Learning about good prenatal and birth care so that she may choose the best possible arrangements which suit her individuality and circumstances.

3. Learning about her practitioner's methods including evaluation of statistics of past cases and talking with other clients.

4. Her own emotional and physical well-being during pregnancy.

5. Attending her prenatal appointments and informing her practitioner if she is unable to attend.

6. Her own psychological preparation for homebirth in a society that may be unsupportive or even hostile, especially if the pregnancy results in the death of the baby.

7. Meeting her practitioner's requirements for preparation for homebirth.

8. Informing the practitioner of any physical, emotional, or psychological, information that may affect the outcome of her birth. These may include intake of drugs, medications, herbs, allopathic, naturopathic, psychological or alternative therapies and the obstetrical, sexual or psychological history of herself or relations, friends or partners which are affecting her attitude towards her birth and parenting.

9. Providing a suitable birthplace and environment for her newborn baby.

10. Making any alternative arrangements for her birth.

11. Making mutually agreed upon birth plans with her practitioner in advance of labor.

12. Choosing a suitable support person or persons for her birth and for ensuring they are emotionally and psychologically prepared for their role at her birth.

13. Being assertive enough to dispense with any person who is not supporting her during her labor.

14. Ensuring her support people can carry out her preferences if she is unable to express them during labor.

15. The psychological and emotional preparation of siblings for the birth.

16. The choosing and preparation of individual support persons for siblings.

17. Acquiring information about breastfeeding and care of the newborn.

18. Arranging domestic support for herself and her family during the postnatal period.

19. Obtaining information regarding the cost of her care and making arrangements for payment.

20. Evaluating the quality of care she has received and making any dissatisfactions she may feel, known to her practitioner.