What it was like to just say NO?
To choose to do whatever you want to do with your body regardless of what someone else tells you?
Did you know that just being pregnant doesn’t make all of that null and void?
You still have rights and choices.
You are still the one making all of the decisions.
If you are deciding that you don’t want to take responsibility for your own body during your pregnancy and birth and the choices that are made about what happens TO YOUR BODY during that time, then that’s absolutely great and wonderful and this blog post obviously isn’t for you.
If, however, you are feeling like it’s wrong to do what someone else is telling you that you HAVE TO DO, if you are feeling like this is NOT THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOU, IF this is the absolutely WRONG CHOICE, WRONG DECISION, WRONG EVERYTHING – then keep on reading!
The best kept secret in the maternity care system is that YOU ARE IN CHARGE.
That you are the one who makes ALL of the decisions AND choices.
That you CAN SAY NO!
I am still having birthing people tell me today that they never knew that they COULD say no – THEY DID NOT EVEN KNOW THAT THEY COULD REFUSE!
No-one had ever told them that they had a choice.
No-one had ever given them even a hint that they could CHOOSE.
It had been deliberately kept from them so that they would do exactly what they were told, when they were told, even if it felt wrong or wasn’t the right choice for them.
I want you to know, now and always, that YOU CAN SAY NO.
To ANYTHING!
Even if it’s something that a care provider tells you.
Even if it’s something that a nurse or midwife tells you.
Even if it’s something that I tell you - yesYesYES, you get to say NO to me too if that’s what you want!
I want you to remember that this is your body, your baby, your birth, and it is your choice – ALWAYS!
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