Birth | Why birth advocacy is so vital for a powerful experience

Birth advocacy... a topic that can stir up some emotions...Today, we're diving into a topic that is very close to my heart: birth advocacy. We'll explore why birth advocacy is crucial, what it looks like in practice, and I'll share five simple ways you can start your birth advocacy journey.Before we get stuck in I feel the need to make a little disclaimer as I know certain people, often those who work within the maternity system, can feel a bit prickly when this topic is raised. And I get it, the maternity system and healthcare system is nuanced and complex. No-one gets into healthcare because they want to cause trauma. But, it does offer healthcare en-masse. And with that comes a need to categorise people, define pathways and generalise care. We can’t minimise the reality that people are going through the maternity system and experiencing trauma. We also can't ignore the fact that people want to know more, and that the power of knowledge in informed decision making cannot be underestimated. But we’re not here to complain about it or point fingers. My role as a doula is that of education and information. Sometimes this gets misconstrued as trying to scare people, but I wholly reject the idea that if you’re pregnant you’re a sponge that just takes it all in with no critical thought. Fear of the system and potential outcomes existed well before doulas started to talk about it.With that in mind – I’m here to provide actionable guidance to help you make informed decisions and shape your care. This podcast is just the tip of this iceberg, but my hope is even if it just sparks one more conversation, just one more person feeling things are happening for them, not to them, then it's gone some way to make a difference.Useful links:Birth Rights Antenatal CourseCQC ReportsBirth Trauma ReportGet more of me:Visit my websiteFollow me on instagramBook in my diary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.