It?s your body. It?s your baby. It?s your birth.
The care you receive during pregnancy, birth and postpartum can affect how you feel about yourself. Sometimes you might feel pressured to ?go with the flow? and not complain. A healthy baby is what matters, right" Wrong. Nobody loves your baby more than you do?of course, you want a healthy baby! In the rush of activity during birth, your pregnancy care providers may not stop to listen to you or to ask for your permission to touch and care for your body. You deserve to be treated with kindness, listened to, have your questions answered and your requests acknowledged. When women receive respectful care, their babies do better. Stress from poor treatment can increase the risk of complications for women and babies. Consider the following tips to receive respectful care as you interact with your pregnancy care team.  
Choosing your healthcare provider
Do your research and read reviews before selecting a healthcare provider for your pregnancy and birth care. Midwives specialize in supporting normal birth; one of their primary philosophies is ?Listen to Women.? Read more about midwives here. Obstetricians are physicians who are experts at managing high-risk pregnancies. Obstetricians may view labor and birth as medical events rather than normal processes. Whomever you choose, you should feel respected, comfortable asking questions, and receive timely and appropriate feedback. Often your insurance may determine your range o...