You have options.
This past week, I have been tracking my blood sugar levels to screen for gestational diabetes. I opted to do this instead of drinking glucola because I was very interested to see how my body responds to foods that I regularly consume. Seeing how my blood sugar responds to different types of foods has given me more insight into how I can better support my body through nutrition, while also screening for gestational diabetes. It has also made me think about how often we think we don’t have options, but we actually do. There are now other drink options on the market that are supposed to be cleaner and taste better than the glucola drink. You can also eat a certain number of jelly beans or other foods to simulate the same type of bodily response to test for gestational diabetes. However, most people drink glucola because it’s the norm and it’s the only option that is presented to them. But, with screening for gestational diabetes and most other aspects of pregnancy and birth, there are a multitude of options.
Each person has different values and preferences that lead them to the unique decisions that they make. However, when something is presented as the only option, many pregnant people uneasily go through with something with which they don’t feel fully comfortable. First and foremost, if we ever find ourselves in those situations (feeling uncomfortable moving forward with something), we should start asking questions:
What other options are there?
What are the risks and benefits of this option?
What are the risks and benefits of doing nothing?
Doing your own research beforehand can also equip you to face these situations in which a decision needs to be made. This is why a birth doula can be so beneficial, because you don’t know what you don’t know. A doula can lay out the various options in a variety of scenarios while also pointing you to different resources about those options. One common area in which many people feel like they don’t have options is with inductions of labor. However, there are different natural methods that you can try, mechanical induction methods, various medications that you can request (or deny) for cervical ripening, different regimens for increasing pitocin that you can request, and more.
I could seriously go on and on about different aspects of pregnancy and birth that have so many options that so many don’t know about. But, that can quickly become overwhelming. Instead, it’s important to identify your top values and preferences, and then evaluate what decisions would help you achieve and protect those top values and preferences. If one of your top values is autonomy, this may include choosing to limit cervical exams and push without coaching. If one of your top preferences is protecting your birth environment, this may include only allowing certain people into your laboring space and utilizing candles to reduce harsh lighting. If you can, sit down with someone that is knowledgeable in pregnancy and birth (definitely your doula if you have one), and talk through your values and preferences with them. They may then help you start outlining decisions that you would like to make to align with what is most important to you.