I was just watching “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” with my kids this morning when I heard a new song from him. It’s a song that partly could be applied to pregnancy and childbirth and the issues of patient’s rights and self-advocacy. I know it’s very simplified but I think it gets the point across:
I Like To Be Told
© 1968 Fred Rogers
I like to be told
When you’re going away,
When you’re going to come back,
And how long you will stay.
How long you will stay.
I like to be told.
I like to be told
If it’s going to hurt.
If it’s going to be hard,
If it’s not going to hurt.
I like to be told.
I like to be told.
It helps me to get ready for all those things,
All those things that are new.
I trust you more and more
Each time that I’m
Finding those things to be true, true.
I like to be told
‘Cause I’m trying to grow,
And I’m trying to learn,
And I’m trying to know.
I like to be told.
I like to be told.
(Yes – I can turn anything into a lesson on childbirth.)
And while we’re talking about patient’s rights, I thought I’d give you a link to a PDF from the American Hospital Administration. Are your providers giving you full information so you can be a partner in the decision making process?
http://www.aha.org/aha/content/2003/pdf/pcp_english_030730.pdf
And do you know your rights as a childbearing woman? You have many legal rights, not the least of which is informed consent and informed refusal. Read up on them here:
http://www.childbirthconnection.org/pdfs/rights_childbearing_women.pdf
Finally, here’s a little acronym to help you remember questions when something comes up with your care:
Benefits- How will this procedure benefit me and my baby?
Risks – What are the risks to me and my baby?
Alternatives – What are some other things we might try instead?
Instinct/Intuition – What is your gut telling you?
Now/Never/Nothing – What if we don’t do the procedure right now? What if we never do it? What if we do nothing?
Safety/Satisfaction – Will this procedure increase the safety and satisfaction of the birth for me and my baby?