02/12/2023
Today's topic for discussion:
The language of permission.
One of the pieces of birthy bu****it that I see all the time revolves around permission. And I will seperate this into 2 sections.
"My care provider said that I can't xyz"
Most of us recognise this as complete and utter nonsense. You are an adult woman. You have a legally binding right to bodily integrity, autonomy, informed consent, and the right to decline whatever the f&^k you want. If you want to give birth hanging upside down from the rafters, that is 100% your choice.
A care provider who says that you must have VEs, CFM, canula, or whatever is breaking the law (and look... they're also not a good person. Good people don't want to take away the rights of birthing women. Do not try and convince me otherwise!)
Then we have the other side.
"I'm so excited because my OB said that I can have a VBAC!"
This is also problem. Mainly from a mindset perspective. It suggests that the OB has some sort of power to give permission. And if they have the power to give permission, then they have the power to take it away.
And this is why an entire module of my VBAC mentoring program is dedicated to helping you manage your relationship with your care provider in a way that ensures that you are the power and the decision maker. And not in a superficial way. (You know, the kind where your care provider has so magnanimously told you that they respect you and will let you make your own decisions).
If you are keen for some holistic VBAC mentoring, please send me a message. I have 2 spaces (at the moment - more may open up, depending on my own mindset!) for the first half of next year.
I'd love to see some conversation about how you are managing your care provider and stepping into your power when it comes to making these decisions?
What other examples do you have of the language of permission being used? (There are lots of examples... but I don't want this post to be too long LOL!
