Advocating for Yourself During Birth: Empowerment in Action 

Today, I want to discuss a topic that is crucial yet often overlooked: advocating for yourself during birth. It's amazing to think that we haven't covered this in detail before, but it's never too late to start.

Advocating for yourself is not only vital for your birth experience but also a lifelong skill that will serve you well into motherhood and beyond. From ensuring your needs and desires are met to setting the tone for how you want your birth story to unfold, learning to advocate for yourself can make all the difference. It's about taking charge, being informed, and communicating effectively.

In this blog post, I’ll share ten actionable tips to help you advocate for yourself during birth. These tips include knowing your birth plan inside and out, communicating openly, educating yourself, and much more. By the end of this post, you'll be equipped with the tools and confidence to navigate your birth journey with empowerment and clarity.

Let's dive in and explore how you can create a positive and memorable birth experience by advocating for yourself.

The Importance of Self-Advocacy

You are responsible for your birth experience. It's essential to know and do what's required to achieve the birth you envision. No one will hand you the birth of your dreams on a silver platter. As much as I'd love to do it for you, it's not possible. Not even your provider can make it happen for you. They can be a fantastic asset, but the work ultimately lies with you.

Advocating for yourself is a powerful tool, not just for your birth and prenatal journey but also for motherhood. You'll need to advocate for your baby until they can do it themselves. This skill is generational; you can teach it to your children, and they can pass it on. This is foundational work.

We aren't taught how to Advocate for Ourselves

I wasn't taught to advocate for myself. I was taught to listen to my provider and follow their instructions. I was told to take a birth prep class, attend appointments, and create a birth plan, but I didn't know how to advocate for that plan. If my provider said something couldn't be done, I accepted it without question. I trusted them, and while trust is important, it shouldn't surpass your trust in yourself.

Today, I'm sharing ten tips to help you advocate for yourself. I'll also provide sample conversations so you can hear the language and tone used. Remember, you can be assertive without being rude. It's about ensuring you get what you need and want because you deserve that.

Ten Tips for Self-Advocacy

1. Know Your Plan Inside and Out: Your birth plan is for you. If you need a piece of paper to know your plan, you don't know it well enough. Understand your plan deeply so you can advocate for it effectively.

2. Communicate Openly and Honestly: If something makes you uncomfortable, speak up. Don't wait for others to read your body language. Set the tone early in your prenatal journey. Express your feelings and needs clearly.

3. Educate Yourself: You don't need to know everything about birth, but focus on what's important to you. The industry evolves, so keep learning, especially about aspects crucial to your desired experience.

4. Bring a Support Person: A support person can help advocate for you, especially when conversations with providers become challenging. Ensure they're ready and willing to support your wishes.

5. Ask Questions: If you're confused or need more information, ask. Don't view your provider as an untouchable authority. It's your right to understand everything related to your care.

6. Express Your Concerns: If something doesn't sit right with you, say so. Trust your intuition and make sure your concerns are heard.

7. Use Assertive Language: Being assertive is not being rude. It’s about standing up for your needs and desires. Practice assertive yet respectful communication.

8. Request Time to Consider Your Options: If you need more time to make a decision, ask for it. Even a few minutes can help you avoid decisions you might regret later.

9. Seek a Second Opinion: If something feels off or you want more information, get a second opinion. It can provide clarity and reassurance.

10. Document Your Experience: If you're not being heard or your wishes are being disregarded, document everything. Having a support person document your experience can be crucial for accountability.

Advocating for yourself during birth is essential for creating a positive birth experience. By knowing your plan, communicating openly, educating yourself, bringing support, asking questions, expressing concerns, using assertive language, requesting time, seeking second opinions, and documenting your experience, you can take charge of your birth story.

Remember, this is your experience, and you deserve to feel heard, seen, and respected. Learning to advocate for yourself is a lifelong skill that will benefit you and your children. Keep doing the work—I'm proud of you.

As always, happy prepping!

XO - Taylor