Articles: For Providers
A Woman Provider Normalizes Obstetric Violence on Social Media
Today I came across this video post by Sarah Wild, CRNA, who says her intention on Instagram is to “set an example for young women, moms & wives to be the best version of themselves and enjoy life.” Make sure your sound is on. These kinds of posts by...
Rethinking Consent and Power in the Birth Room
How are we supposed to exercise “consent” in the birth room when we don’t recognize what consent is outside of it–and how power dynamics complicate it?
When Your Lawyer is Your Doula
“That doesn’t make sense, for her to wait until after she’s abused to call me. If she’s really worried about it, I can meet her at the hospital as her doula, and make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Physician Trauma: A Doctor Answers, Why Do We Sometimes Do Terrible Things?
Medicine is a culture of trauma, where well-intended folks are immersed in abusive and traumatizing training and then expected to care for others.
Being Admitted to the Hospital or Signing Consent Forms is NOT “Implied Consent”
The concept of “implied consent” is sometimes mischaracterized by hospitals to justify violations of women’s dignity and rights in childbirth.
Letter to an Obstetrician: Forced Vaginal Procedures are Unethical, Traumatic
The performance of medical procedures without consent on a competent adult is unethical, unprofessional, and possibly illegal. More specifically, when a medical or midwifery professional administers a procedure without the consent of the pregnant or laboring...
ACOG to Docs: Women’s Right to Say “No” Comes First
ACOG discourages physicians “in the strongest possible terms” from the use of coercion and court-ordered threats or interventions against pregnant women.
Obstetrician Ethics: Awesome Guidelines from the National OBs’ Group
For pregnant people and those who work with them, these ethical concepts around their care are critical.
Nurse: Women are “Fabricating” Traumatic Birth Stories
Recently, a nurse wrote to Birth Monopoly about “seemingly fabricated traumatic birth stories.”
Nurses: Women Are *Not* “Fabricating” Birth Trauma
This first nurse’s comment gives us a pretty accurate peephole into an operating system that tells traumatized women, over and over: “Stop talking.”
Doctor, You’re Not Listening
So much trauma could be prevented by simply listening to and respecting the women giving birth.
You’re Not Allowed to Not Allow Me
The legal authority in childbirth lies with the woman giving birth, not the providers of care. Our words should reflect that.