“Many women want a natural birth and prefer to rely on their bodies to give birth to their baby without the aid of medical intervention,” says Ian Askew, WHO Director, Department of Reproductive Health and Research. “Even when a medical intervention is wanted or needed, the inclusion of women in making decisions about the care they receive is important to ensure that they meet their goal of a positive childbirth experience.”
They also talk about the importance of a high quality of care:
“As more women give birth in health facilities with skilled health professionals and timely referrals, they deserve better quality of care,” says the report. “About 830 women die from pregnancy- or childbirth-related complications around the world every day – the majority could be prevented with high-quality care in pregnancy and during childbirth.”
“We want women to give birth in a safe environment with skilled birth attendants in well-equipped facilities,” says Dr Princess Nothemba Simelela, WHO Assistant Director-General for Family, Women, Children and Adolescents.
They say that healthcare professionals should be advising women that labour progresses differently for different women, and the duration varies greatly too. While most women will be aware there are some risks and would welcome interventions when necessary, it’s important that they are also supported to be involved in that decision making, and of course to be close with her baby following the birth, no matter how it eventuates.
To read the full report, visit HERE: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2018/positive-childbirth-experience/en/
