Avoiding Birth Trauma

Just a few points from me in no particular order.
* make eye contact, introduce yourself
* don't even go in the room unless you are utterly VITAL to the proceedings
* follow any wishes, desires or instructions to leave lights off, whisper or avoid speaking during cx
* when a woman says no, she means it - she doesn't mean keep asking in different ways or with threats implied, or outright
* separating a mother and baby without good reason is traumatising and barbaric and should be avoided unless one or other are seriously ill and require major emergency treatment
* belittling a birthing woman's sounds or movements is not ok ever
* informed consent means truly informed and that means about ALL interventions, even the ones you want her to have
* all drugs and interventions come with serious side effects, be clear about them and about other possible ways to manage the situation without creating a negative impact on the health of mother and baby

Borrowed from http://www.joyousbirth.info/ an Australian website

Also see: http://www.joyousbirth.info/forums/showthread.php?t=10778

Share these homebirth slideshows with friends and family!

Joyous Birth members' birthsHomebirth Awareness Year 2008 http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=4fce1bbdc1be211b451224&skin_id=1603&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

Where will you birth?
JB's home/hospital comparison. http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=511c2833c5c5549b6fa5d2
Anise Luna's homebirth http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=53ffc3ff3eafc32166b846&skin_id=0&disable_autoplay=true
Janet's freebirth of Isobel http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=4f865770144ab266f15cfe&skin_id=1603&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url
Born Free - Tally's unassisted waterbirth. http://www.onetruemedia.com/otm_site/view_shared?p=4fcfb7cde5d3ba80c8c787&skin_id=601&pid=95425&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url