I explain to the [homebirth transport] that it may take up to two hours for her to "own" the place where she is. I call it a "cool down" period, and speak of "cocooning" into a place where she can birth. Not all places acknowledge the woman's need for safety, but most will accommodate this to some degree. Decision-making should be by consensus. This is the client's birth, and she has the ultimate say over what happens to her body. The most powerful words a client or her partner may use (only in direst need) are, "I do not give my consent for that procedure." These are medico-legal power words that should not be overused: they are directly confrontational and lead to extreme power plays by authorities. However, they are the client's right.
-Anne E. Stohrer, MD
"Transporting," Midwifery Today Issue 38
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (Vol 1 Issue 51, Dec 17, 1999)
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