Pregnancy Delivery

During your second or third trimester, you should begin to look at the hospitals or birthing centers with whom your health care professional is associated.

If you have a choice of facilities, take a tour of the maternity area to decide which facility you prefer. You can arrange a tour by calling the hospital or birthing center.

We'll give you some suggestions on questions to ask and things to look for that will make your delivery day easier and ensure that there are no surprises.

Patient's Rights and Informed Consent - Remember that you have rights as a patient and get a copy of the hospital or birthing center privacy and patient rights brochures. Read it thoroughly and be sure to ask your doctor and the staff at the facility any questions you may have about these standards.

Any medical procedures, tests, medications or other action that is administered to you during your delivery and your time in the hospital requires 'informed consent'.

In other words, the staff must explain what they are doing and WHY they are doing it and you have the right to refuse treatment if you wish.

You doctor, midwife and medical staff MUST tell you about the benefits AND the risks of any procedure or action they plan to take. The consent form you sign when you are admitted does not mean you can't change your mind about a specific procedure or issue, so ask questions and know your rights.

Understand that your doctor is bound by oath and by law to care for you and your baby so if you refuse a procedure that she feels is necessary she may choose to proceed with this procedure anyway and she is legally protected if she does so. You will have to sort out the legality and the outcome after delivery!

You also have a right to ask for a second opinion about your treatment but in an emergency, there may not be time to call for another doctor and get that second opinion.

It is important to note that, in most cases, your pregnancy and delivery will proceed in a healthy manner and you will never be faced with these kinds of life and death decisions.

But, even for the small decisions where you have options, you do have the right to get a second opinion or to refuse what your doctor recommends, so it is important that you know your rights. Your doctor, midwife and medical staff are there to help you, not to hurt you, and in most cases, you won't face any significant disagreement.

Once you have chosen your birthing facility, get familiar with the procedures and the layout of the facility so that you can relax and be calm on the day of your delivery.

Remember, if you know where you are going and what is going to happen to you, you are less likely to be stressed over the small details.

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