Hi Kate,
Yes - I have found again and again that if I am 'difficult' and informed, I get what I want. But women who are compliant get run through the system with little or no thought to their personal needs and wants.
In other words, if you want something, ask for it. If you don't ask, how can you expect to receive?
Leanne XXX (the first epileptic ever to be accepted into the Family Birth Centre, RWH, Melbourne, due to a LOT of pushing on my part!)
Kate &/or Nick wrote:
>>I agree with Jo in that no-one can force you. However it might be an option to look into booking into another hospital where your choices are supported. It can be difficult to labour & birth in a negative environment where people are likely to pressure you to change your mind throughout.
Ditto from me. I did VBAC, but it took alot of "negotiation". I worked all through my pregnancy with my OB, and she was fine, but every midwife I met from the hospital told me I should be booking in for a cs. They gave me time limits, monitoring requirements and other impediments. All were, according to them, non negotiable. I had already negotiated all with my OB.
I finally wrote to the unit manager, pointed out that I was doomed to a cs if I had any of those midwives, and requested that the most supportive midwife rostered on be allocated to me. In the end, I was allocated my midwife in advance - a midwife volunteered to take my case, and was called in when I showed up in labour. I could not have succeeded without the full commitment of everyone in that room.
So, if I were you, I would investigate other hospitals to see if one is more supportive, or I would start jumping up and down, and demanding that your needs be met. Mine were - in a private hospital that does not have any sort of continuity of midwifery care program. It's amazing what you can achieve if you are "difficult" enough!
Kate
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