Complete Guide For Self-Advocacy In Labor And Delivery

Learning to advocate for yourself during labor is essential for ensuring that your desires and requirements are honored, which can lead to a more fulfilling birthing experience.

Labor is an extremely individual journey, and voicing your preferences guarantees that your specific needs and desires are considered. When your choices are valued, there’s a higher likelihood that you will feel empowered and pleased with your birthing process, positively influencing your mental well-being postpartum.

By articulating your desires and expectations effectively, you promote improved understanding and teamwork with your medical team. Establishing trust with your healthcare providers fosters a more cooperative and nurturing atmosphere. Being your own advocate requires staying informed about the alternatives available, along with understanding the possible risks and benefits tied to various interventions, which leads to safer decisions.

We consulted with Emiliana Hall, who is the founder of The Mindful Birth Group®, and Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris, a former pediatric nurse who is now a prenatal and postnatal health specialist and the founder of FIT MAMA.

What Are the Fundamental Maternity Rights in the UK?

“In the UK, there are several maternity rights designed to assist you throughout your pregnancy and afterwards. Below are the essential points you should be aware of,” states Emiliana Hall.

1. Antenatal Care: You have the right to paid leave for antenatal appointments, which encompass medical visits and classes.
2. Respectful Antenatal Care: Your healthcare provider is expected to listen to your preferences and inform you of the merits and risks impartially. After you make an informed choice, they should honor your decisions and offer their support. If you’re still uncertain about the advantages and disadvantages, you can obtain more information through the PregnaHub.
3. Maternity Leave and Pay: If you are an employee, you are entitled to as much as 52 weeks of maternity leave. Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is provided for up to 39 weeks, granted you have been with your employer for a minimum of 26 weeks by the 15th week prior to your due date.
4. Health and Safety: Your employer is required to ensure that your working conditions remain safe during your pregnancy. This means making necessary adjustments if your role poses any risks to you or your baby.
5. Protection from Discrimination: It is against the law for your employer to treat you unfairly or terminate your employment due to your pregnancy, childbirth, or maternity leave.

How Can You Manage the Time Leading Up to Your Birth?

Getting ready for childbirth involves both practical and emotional preparations. Here are some suggestions to assist you during this time, according to Emiliana Hall.

• Stay Informed: Participate in antenatal classes, read reliable resources, and consider joining the PregnaHub® for comprehensive assistance and expert-guided content.
• Evaluate Your Birth Preferences and Non-Preferences: Think about your birth preferences and discuss them with your midwife, doula, or in your antenatal class. This may involve your favored birthing setting, birth team, comfort measures or pain relief methods, along with any specific requirements or concerns you may have. Mindful Natal® classes are designed to prepare you for any type of birth so that you are ready for the day.
• Take Care of Yourself: Engage in regular gentle exercise, maintain a balanced diet, and practice relaxation techniques like pregnancy yoga and hypnobirthing to minimize stress. The PregnaHub®offers all of these resources and more to support your physical and mental wellness, adds Emiliana Hall.

What Are Your Essential Rights Relating to Childbirth?

Your human rights are paramount during the childbirth process. These include:

• Right to Informed Consent: You have the right to comprehensive information regarding any procedures and the ability to either grant or deny consent.
• Right to Respect and Dignity: You should be treated with dignity and respect throughout your birthing journey, ensuring your desires and needs are acknowledged.
• Right to Support: You are entitled to have a birth partner present with you during labor and delivery, providing necessary emotional and physical assistance, states Emiliana Hall.

Birth Rights is a valuable resource to consult for matters related to birth rights throughout pregnancy, labor, and postnatal recovery.

How Can Your Birthing Partner Serve as Your Advocate During Labor?

A birthing partner holds an important role in supporting and advocating for you. Here’s how they can assist:

• Understand Your Birth Preferences: Ensure your birthing partner is aware of your birth plan and preferences so they can effectively relay these to the care team.
• Speak Up: Your partner should feel empowered to raise questions, seek clarification, and ensure that your wishes are honored, particularly if you are unable to do so yourself.
• Offer Emotional Support: Continuous emotional and physical support from your birthing partner can significantly enhance your comfort and confidence during labor.

If you sense that your birthing partner is unable to fulfill this role, think about bringing a secondary birthing 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 feel that you have been mistreated or have faced neglect during your birth, it’s vital to understand your options:

• Speak to a Supervisor: Address your concerns with the supervisor of midwives or the head of midwifery at your maternity unit at the earliest opportunity.
• File a Complaint: You have the option to submit a formal complaint to the hospital or healthcare provider. Each NHS Trust has a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) available to assist you.
• Seek Legal Guidance: If you believe you have endured harm due to negligence, obtaining legal advice from a solicitor specializing in medical negligence can provide clarity regarding your rights and available options.

How to Obtain Support After Giving Birth?

Support following childbirth is crucial for your health and recovery. Here’s how you can tap into it:

• Health Visitor: Following the birth, you will be allocated a health visitor who will offer guidance and assistance regarding your baby’s health and growth.
• Postnatal Care: Utilize postnatal consultations to talk about any worries you may have concerning your recovery and your baby’s wellness, suggests Emiliana Hall.
• Postnatal Doulas: A doula can offer hands-on help with your baby and in your household, in addition to emotional support to assist you in processing the birth and transitioning into this new phase of life.
• Support Groups: Participating in support groups, whether in-person or via the internet, can provide emotional backing and practical tips from fellow new parents.
• Mental Health Support: If you find yourself struggling with your mental health, do not hesitate to reach out for assistance from your GP or a mental health expert. Our PregnaHub® also supplies resources and professional advice to bolster your mental health, says Emiliana Hall.

We also consulted with Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris, who stated: “Every individual is entitled to up to 52 weeks of maternity leave when expecting a baby. By law, you are required to take at least 2 weeks off following the birth of your child. After this duration, you determine how long you want to be away. I believe the maternity rights concerning pay for self-employed entrepreneurs are insufficient. I received statutory maternity pay for my third child, 9 months at £172.38 weekly – this was not sufficient to cover my portion of the mortgage and expenses. It provides no motivation for women to launch their own businesses,” states Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris.

How to manage the lead-up to your delivery?

“Preparation is crucial. I dedicated a lot of time beforehand preparing meals to freeze. This was incredibly beneficial when I felt fatigued and was trying to manage those initial weeks with a newborn. It’s easy to overlook tasks like cooking a nutritious meal when you’re busy attending to a newborn, yet it’s vital not to let this fall by the wayside; consuming wholesome meals will nourish your body and mind and provide you with more energy for baby care.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle, drink plenty of water, get as much sleep as possible, and stay active as much as feels comfortable. If you can, take some time away from work before your baby arrives; prioritize relaxation and engage in self-care, advises Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris.

Your entitlements regarding childbirth?

In the UK, mothers possess various rights to guarantee their dignity and autonomy during pregnancy and childbirth.

Women have the authority to select where they give birth, whether in a hospital or at home. However, this is contingent upon the birth’s risk level – if you are categorized as high risk, your midwife will advise you to deliver in a hospital. Due to my nursing background, I was aware of many policies in advance, yet informed consent should be provided to every mother irrespective of the circumstances.

You also have the autonomy to make your own choices regarding your care, and you can decline any interventions at any moment – your healthcare provider is tasked with giving you all necessary information such as the risks and advantages, enabling you to make a knowledgeable decision, remarks Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris.

How your birthing partner can advocate for you during labour?

A birthing partner plays a vital role in representing the birthing individual during labour and delivery.

During preparations, the birthing partner can participate in antenatal classes to become knowledgeable enough to make decisions on behalf of the mother. They can also aid in developing the birth plan. However, from my own experience, I wouldn’t create a strict birth plan. You can never predict what will occur on the day, so it’s wise to have a general notion of what you absolutely want versus what you definitely do not desire.

Throughout the pregnancy, it’s crucial for the birthing partner to acquire knowledge concerning the labour and delivery processes, so they can offer support effectively, Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris emphasized.

During labour, ensuring clear communication with healthcare professionals is essential. They can serve as your advocate, conveying the birth plans and your preferences. If any procedures or interventions are suggested, the birthing partner can pose questions on behalf of the birthing individual.

Providing emotional reassurance, offering words of support and comfort can be beneficial, as well as assisting with comfort measures like managing the TENS machine, keeping the birthing person cool with a chilled cloth, and offering sips of water.”

What to do if you believe you’ve been mistreated or a victim of negligence?

If you feel you have been treated unfairly or are a victim of negligence, I would suggest contacting PALS, the Patient Advice Liaison Service. Here, you can report an incident and seek assistance. You can also consider obtaining private legal advice, Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris adds.

How to acquire assistance post-delivery?

After the birth, your midwife will visit you for a period of 10 days. The home visits will likely focus on ensuring that both you and your baby are recovering well. If you have any worries, this is the time to discuss them. Following this, you will transition to the health visiting service. The health visitor will come to aid you and your baby, offering advice and support regarding child development, vaccinations, and parenting. Approximately 6 weeks postnatal, you will have a follow-up appointment with your GP. Personally, I feel these check-ups aren’t comprehensive enough. While they allow you to voice any concerns, the physical assessments are inadequate. I would specifically request the GP to examine the c-section scar, any stitches, and Diastasis recti,” mentions Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris.

If you are facing symptoms of postnatal depression or anxiety, it’s crucial to consult your GP or health visitor. They can then direct you to counseling and additional mental health services to assist you during this period.  Organizations such as the National Childbirth Trust (NCT), PANDAS Foundation, and Mind offer resources and support networks.

The health visitor is able to provide practical guidance and assistance with breastfeeding, including participating in breastfeeding support communities. These groups may be available online or in-person and serve as an excellent means to obtain encouragement and counsel from peers. Organizations such as La Leche League, NCT, and the Breastfeeding Network offer resources and assistance, continues Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris.

Numerous local community facilities and organizations conduct classes and workshops targeted at new parents. They facilitate support networks where you can connect with other parents, exchange experiences, and seek advice. The NCT (National Childbirth Trust) and other child-rearing charities frequently host these gatherings. Local children’s centers provide a variety of services, including parental assistance, playgroups, and health care offerings. You can locate the nearest center via your local council’s website,” shares Mari-Carmen Sanchez-Morris.