September 3, 2019
I am 100% for autonomy. Mama should have choice in outcome. All of her choices should be educated and be - HERS.
Recently,I had a client that decided to drop me and chose an elective cesarean. Huge gap, ain't? Unassisted birth to elective cesarean.
This taught me a great deal and God, am I blessed to have crossed paths with her. Obviously, I am very pro unassisted birth. I do not agree with surgical removal of a human unless absolutely necessary. I recently had a mama who originally desired an unassisted, VBAC birth.She later chose to have an elective cesarean. Successful, nonetheless! It just left me to reflect.
Ido not understand how one could elect this choice. I do not understand why one would agree to the risks – but this was her choice. She had her baby, elective cesarean yesterday - This is autonomy.
This is what I preach.
I feel she deserved autonomy, regardless of what her choice was. This has never happened to me, before. I never once had a mama go fromUnassisted birth to elective cesarean – but it happened. It taught me a great deal.
I cannot empower women who do not desire empowerment.
I cannot educate women on the risks of a consecutive cesarean if they do not care to know.
I cannot force a woman to know her capability, if she does not care.
I cannot force her to see her ability and power. If she does not see it and chooses otherwise, I must accept and move forward.
This was hard for me. Accepting chosen autonomy was hard for me. I question why she felt doubt? Were there fears she never mentioned?Did I do something wrong? Did I not cover a base that should have been?
No.She simply made a choice. She was not ready to embark on a VBAC birth. Although hard for me to accept, this is reality. This is what she chose in autonomy.
I grew a GREAT deal in this experience, I am so thankful to have crossed paths, and thought I’d share.
I support autonomy, in full, even if I do not agree with your choice. I support you!