"Maternity care is a key area in which women's ability to exercise real choice and make informed decisions is limited... women's autonomy continues to be violated through both quite subtle and overt discourse and practice." --Journal of Advanced Nursing
Advocating for yourself in today's medical system isn't easy, but it is key to having an empowered pregnancy. That doesn't mean you're on your own, though.
Our PUSH team has developed tried-and-true strategies for finding a provider you trust, getting answers to your questions, and ensuring your voice is heard - and we've packaged them all up for YOU!
Download our comprehensive PUSH Questions to Ask Your Doctor list (PDF) here!
Note: We're in the process of assembling some new features for this section, including a user-submitted database of recommended medical providers and a Rapid Response Team to help you push hard when you're not being heard. But in the meantime, please don't hesitate to reach out if you need help! You're not alone, parents. We've got you.
WHY YOU NEED TO ADVOCATE
It seems counterintuitive and even ironic, but paternalism is a very real problem in prenatal care today - and you don't have to have a male medical provider to experience it.
As a result, women are often dismissed, talked down to, and not given meaningful choices in their prenatal care. For example, we hear every day from (or have experienced ourselves) parents who:
are vocally concerned about altered fetal movement (see #MovementsMatter) but receive minimal follow-up
raise concerns (“Something doesn’t feel right”) but are dismissed and told not to worry (see #KnowYourNormal & Preeclampsia)
are given minimal or no choices regarding the timing of their baby’s birth
are not informed of stillbirth risks because they are deemed unable to "handle" this information or doctors do not want to "scare" the patient
are denied requested fetal monitoring and ultrasound scans, even when they suspect their baby may be in distress (see #AlwaysAsk)
are not offered adequate pain control medications after a C-section
are refused requests for non-standard practices, even when clearly informed of risks & benefits and backed by science (see CMV, EPV & Cord Screening)
have mental health symptoms (postpartum depression and anxiety, PTSD, etc.) that are overlooked or brushed off as "baby blues" (see Maternal Mental Health)
ask for details during an ultrasound scan, and are met with vague answers out of concern that an actual answer would "alarm" the mother
question inaccurate data in their medical chart and find it very difficult to get the errors in their medical records amended
In this environment, it's absolutely critical that every pregnant person is empowered to speak up and, if necessary, fight to be heard. We love the hashtag #UseYourMomVoice, which was coined by the Preeclampsia Foundation but is applicable to SO MANY aspects of pregnancy.
There are not many situations in life when decisions are literally life and death - but pregnancy is one of them. You are your baby's best advocate! Do not EVER hesitate to #UseYourMomVoice - doing so could save your baby's life or your own!
BEING PROACTIVE: WHAT YOU CAN DO
While there is no silver bullet to address these issues, there are things you can do to self-advocate and help make your voice heard:
1) Take notes & track data at prenatal appointments & beyond
Show up to your doctor's office with an app open on your phone, or good ole pen & paper. Did your doctor measure your baby's fetal heart beat or your blood pressure at your appointment? Great! Write it down. Having a high risk pregnancy and monthly growth scans? Record your baby's growth, amniotic fluid measurements, biophysical profile scores, NST reactivity, and other data each appointment.
This shows that you are paying attention, so they should be too. Ask about things you do not understand, and make it a point to go home and learn more. An informed patient keeping notes of what is going on will get better care, and it may be less likely that something will be missed. If you note anything concerning or that doesn't make sense, speak up!
And remember, staying aware doesn't stop at home! Keep track of your baby's movements because #MovementsMatter. There are many great free apps, but use whatever works for you! And if anything concerning arises, show your doctor the data you’ve collected. (But of course you don't need concerning data to seek care. Go in anytime something doesn't seem right, no matter what any app tells you. See #AlwaysAsk)
2) Ask, ask, & ask: Ask questions, Ask for your records, and Ask for the care you need!
Always come to your check-ups with questions. Here's a great list to get you started, but don't hesitate to add to it. The more you know what's going on in your pregnancy, the better.
Next, you have the right to ANY of your medical records. Do you want to see the scans from your ultrasound? Wondering what your doctor wrote in your chart after your last visit? No problem! Request your records (for free) and learn what is in them. Sometimes a provider will write something in a patient’s medical record, but fail to actually tell them (or, maybe you just didn't hear - bringing a friend or family member as a second set of eyes and ears to can help!). Miscommunications can be avoided by reading your records for yourself.
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