RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BLACK WOMEN AND PREGNANT PERSONS

 
 
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Carefully consider the pros and cons of home, birth center and hospital birth, make an informed decision and work with health-care providers who support your decision:


Do your research! Don’t assume that a hospital birth is the safest and best option. Learn about the benefits of and debates about out-of- hospital birth.


 
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Educate yourself about the benefits of normal physiologic (natural) birth for you and your baby:


Challenge the myth that natural birth is “white and hippy” by learning more about birthing and midwifery traditions in black communities.


Write down your fears about pregnancy and labor and investigate where these fears come from and how realistic they are. Ask family members, friends and community birthworkers to share empowering and positive birth stories as an antidote to powerful media images.

 
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Prepare to be an informed and empowered advocate during your birth process:

Visit the BWBJ website and read the Black Pregnant Persons’ Bill of rights.


  • If you plan a hospital birth, research the cesarean, episiotomy and, if relevant, VBAC rates of local hospitals using data provided at www.calqualitycare.org and www.leapfroggroup.org. Read ratings of California hospitals produced by Consumer Reports at http:// www.cahealthcarecompare.org/. Ask your obstetrician to share their cesarean rates since these may vary among physicians at the same practice or hospital.


  • Learn about the benefits and risks of possible medical interventions before going into labor, write down a birth plan and ask your obstetrician or midwife if they feel able to respect it. A birth plan template is available at www.bwbj.org.


  • Learn about and demand your rights to informed consent, to refuse medical treatment, to humane, dignified and equal treatment, and to adequate health-care. Remember that you have the human right to ask for evidence for recommended interventions, make choices and say “no” throughout your pregnancy and labor.


Ensure that the people who will be present at your birth understand and support your birth preferences.

If your physician tells you that you should have a scheduled cesarean, consider getting a second opinion.


  • Investigate the benefits of midwifery care and consider primary or concurrent care (alongside a physician) with a midwife.


If your rights have been violated, or you have experienced coercive or conflictual relationship with a health-care provider, consider changing providers, lodging a formal complaint, and joining or starting an advocacy campaign to improve standards of care at that facility.