Advocating for yourself during labor is crucial for ensuring that your wishes and needs are respected, which can enhance your overall birthing experience.
Every labor journey is unique, and expressing your preferences ensures that your individual needs are taken into account. When you feel that your choices are acknowledged, you are more likely to experience empowerment and satisfaction with your birthing experience, which can have a positive effect on your mental health in the postpartum period.
By clearly communicating your desires and expectations, you encourage better understanding and collaboration with your healthcare team. Building trust with your medical providers creates a more supportive and cooperative environment. Self-advocacy also means being well-informed about the options available to you and knowing the potential risks and benefits associated with different interventions, leading to safer choices.
We reached out to Emiliana Hall, founder of The Mindful Birth Group®, and Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris, a former pediatric nurse who is now a prenatal and postnatal health expert and founder of FIT MAMA.
What Are Your Fundamental Maternity Rights in the UK?
“In the UK, several maternity rights are designed to support you throughout your pregnancy and after. Here are the key points you should know,” explains Emiliana Hall.
- Antenatal Care: You are entitled to paid leave for antenatal appointments, including medical visits and classes.
- Respectful Antenatal Care: Your healthcare provider should listen to your preferences and provide information about the benefits and risks in an unbiased manner. They should support your informed choices. If you still have uncertainties, further information can be obtained through the PregnaHub.
- Maternity Leave and Pay: If you are employed, you have the right to up to 52 weeks of maternity leave. Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is available for up to 39 weeks if you’ve been employed for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before your due date.
- Health and Safety: Employers are required to maintain safe working conditions during your pregnancy, which includes making any necessary adjustments if your job presents risks to you or your baby.
- Protection from Discrimination: It is illegal for your employer to treat you unfairly or dismiss you due to your pregnancy, childbirth, or maternity leave.
How Can You Manage the Time Leading Up to Your Birth?
Preparing for childbirth encompasses both practical and emotional readiness. Emiliana Hall shares some tips to help you during this period.
- Stay Informed: Attend antenatal classes, read trustworthy resources, and consider joining PregnaHub® for complete support and expert-guided materials.
- Assess Your Birth Preferences and Non-Preferences: Contemplate your birthing wishes and discuss them with your midwife, doula, or during your antenatal classes. This includes your preferred birthing environment, birth team, comfort measures or pain relief options, as well as any specific needs or concerns. Mindful Natal® classes prepare you for any birth scenario so that you feel ready.
- Prioritize Self-Care: Regular gentle exercise, a balanced diet, and relaxation techniques such as pregnancy yoga and hypnobirthing can help reduce stress. The PregnaHub® offers various resources to support your physical and mental health, notes Emiliana Hall.
What Are Your Essential Rights Relating to Childbirth?
Your human rights are crucial throughout the childbirth experience. These include:
- Right to Informed Consent: You have the right to receive thorough information regarding any procedures and the option to either consent or refuse.
- Right to Respect and Dignity: You deserve to be treated with dignity and respect throughout your birthing experience, ensuring your wants and needs are recognized.
- Right to Support: You are entitled to have a birth partner present during labor and delivery to provide essential emotional and physical support, notes Emiliana Hall.
To learn more about birth rights throughout pregnancy, labor, and postnatal recovery, consult the resource Birth Rights.
How Can Your Birthing Partner Act as Your Advocate During Labor?
A birthing partner plays a vital role in your support and advocacy. Here’s how they can contribute:
- Know Your Birth Preferences: Ensure your partner understands your birth plan and expectations to effectively communicate these with the care team.
- Speak Up: Your partner should feel confident in asking questions, seeking clarification, and ensuring your preferences are respected, especially if you cannot voice them yourself.
- Provide Emotional Support: The continuous emotional and physical support from your birthing partner can greatly enhance your comfort and confidence during labor.
If you feel that your birthing partner may not be able to fulfill this role, consider inviting a secondary partner, such as a trusted friend, family member, or doula, suggests Emiliana Hall.
What Steps Should You Take If You Believe You’ve Experienced Mistreatment or Negligence During Birth?
If you believe you have faced mistreatment or neglect during your birthing process, it is important to know your options:
- Talk to a Supervisor: Raise your concerns with the midwifery supervisor or head of midwifery at your maternity unit as soon as possible.
- Submit a Complaint: You can file a formal complaint with the hospital or healthcare provider. Each NHS Trust has a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) to assist you.
- Seek Legal Advice: Should you believe you have suffered harm due to negligence, consulting a solicitor specializing in medical negligence can provide clarity on your rights and options.
How to Find Support After Giving Birth?
Postnatal support is essential for your recovery and well-being. Here are ways to access it:
- Health Visitor: Once your baby is born, a health visitor will be assigned to provide guidance on your baby’s health and development.
- Postnatal Care: Take advantage of postnatal appointments to address any concerns regarding your recovery and your baby’s health, recommends Emiliana Hall.
- Postnatal Doulas: A doula can assist you practically with your baby and household tasks, while also offering emotional support to help you adjust to this new phase of life.
- Support Groups: Joining support groups, whether in person or online, can offer emotional encouragement and practical advice from fellow new parents.
Mental Health Support: If you’re finding it challenging to manage your mental health, it is important not to hesitate in seeking help from your general practitioner or a mental health professional. PregnaHub® also provides resources and expert advice to enhance your mental wellbeing, as noted by Emiliana Hall.
We also spoke with Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris, who remarked: “Every individual is entitled to a maximum of 52 weeks of maternity leave when expecting a child. Legally, you must take at least 2 weeks off after the birth of your baby, and following this period, you have the freedom to decide how long you wish to be away. I think that the maternity pay rights for self-employed individuals are inadequate. I received statutory maternity pay during my third child’s care, which amounted to 9 months at £172.38 per week – this was not enough to cover my share of the mortgage and other costs. Such limitations discourage women from starting their own businesses,” explains Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris.
How to prepare for the arrival of your baby?
“Preparation is essential. I spent considerable time beforehand preparing meals to freeze. This turned out to be incredibly advantageous during the times I felt exhausted while managing the early weeks with a newborn. It’s easy to miss out on tasks like cooking a healthy meal when you’re preoccupied with a newborn, but it’s critical that this doesn’t get neglected; eating nourishing meals will benefit both your body and mind, giving you more energy for caring for your baby.
Adopt a healthy lifestyle, stay hydrated, try to get as much sleep as possible, and remain active as much as feels manageable. If feasible, take some time off work before your baby arrives; focus on relaxation and prioritize self-care, advises Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris.
Your rights concerning childbirth?
In the UK, mothers have a range of rights to ensure their dignity and control during pregnancy and childbirth.
Women can choose their birthplace, whether that be in a hospital or at home. However, this choice is dependent on the risk level of the birth – if categorized as high risk, your midwife will likely recommend delivering in a hospital. Given my nursing background, I was already familiar with many policies, yet informed consent must be extended to all mothers, regardless of the circumstances.
You also have the right to make decisions regarding your care, and you can refuse any interventions at any point – healthcare providers are responsible for providing all necessary information on risks and benefits, enabling you to make informed choices, remarks Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris.
How your birthing partner can support you during labour?
A birthing partner is essential in advocating for the birthing person during labour and delivery.
In the lead-up to the birth, the birthing partner should engage in antenatal classes to become knowledgeable enough to make decisions on behalf of the mother. They can also assist in creating the birth plan. However, from my personal experience, I would recommend against setting a rigid birth plan. The events of the day can be unpredictable, so having a general idea of what you would like, as opposed to what you wish to avoid, is more realistic.
Throughout the pregnancy, it is vital for the birthing partner to educate themselves on labour and delivery processes to provide effective support, emphasizes Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris.
During labour, clear communication with healthcare providers is imperative. The birthing partner can advocate on your behalf by sharing your birth plans and preferences. In situations where procedures or interventions are recommended, the birthing partner can ask questions on behalf of the birthing individual.
Offering emotional support, words of reassurance, and comfort can be quite helpful, in addition to assisting with comfort measures such as operating the TENS machine, keeping the birthing individual cool with a damp cloth, and offering sips of water.
What steps to take if you feel neglected or mistreated?
If you believe you have experienced mistreatment or negligence, it’s advisable to reach out to PALS, the Patient Advice Liaison Service, where you can report your concerns and seek guidance. Considering private legal advice may also be an option, adds Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris.
How to seek assistance after giving birth?
Post-delivery, your midwife will visit you for up to 10 days. These home visits will typically focus on ensuring the health and recovery of both you and your baby. This is the ideal time to raise any concerns you might have. Afterward, you will transition to the health visiting service, where a health visitor will support you and your baby, offering guidance on development, vaccinations, and parenting. Around six weeks postnatal, a follow-up appointment with your GP is scheduled. Personally, I feel these check-ups are insufficient. While they provide an opportunity to voice concerns, the physical examinations often fall short. I would specifically request that the GP examine the c-section scar, any stitches, and check for Diastasis recti,” shares Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris.
If you are experiencing signs of postnatal depression or anxiety, it’s essential to consult with your GP or health visitor. They can refer you to counseling and additional mental health services to support you during this period. Organizations like the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), PANDAS Foundation, and Mind provide valuable resources and support networks.
Health visitors can also offer practical help and support with breastfeeding, including connections to breastfeeding support groups. These communities may be available both online and in-person, serving as excellent avenues to gain encouragement and advice from fellow parents. Resources and assistance from organizations such as La Leche League, NCT, and the Breastfeeding Network are also available, continues Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris.
Many local community centers and organizations hold classes and workshops tailored for new parents. They create networks of support where parents can interact with each other, share experiences, and seek guidance. The NCT and other parenting charities often host these events. Local children’s centers provide a variety of services, including parental support, playgroups, and health care options. You can find the nearest center through your local council’s website,” concludes Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris.
