AABN Mother-Friendly Agreement (A CIMS Adaptation)
Normalcy of the Birthing Process
- Birth is a normal, natural, and healthy process.
- Women and babies have the inherent wisdom necessary for birth.
- Babies are aware, sensitive human beings at the time of birth, and should be acknowledged and treated as such.
- Breastfeeding provides the optimum nourishment for newborns and infants.
- Birth can safely take place in a variety of settings.
- The midwifery model of care is safe and appropriate for many women during pregnancy and birth.
Empowerment
- A woman’s confidence and ability to give birth and care for her baby is directly affected by her birth team and environment.
- A mother and baby are distinct yet interdependent during pregnancy, birth and infancy. Their interconnectedness is vital and must be respected.
- Pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period are milestone events in the continuum of life. These experiences profoundly affect women, babies, fathers, and families, and have important and long-lasting effects on society.
Autonomy
Every woman should have the opportunity to:
- Have a healthy and joyous birth experience for herself and her family, regardless of her age or circumstances;
- Give birth as she wishes in an environment in which she feels nurtured and secure, and her emotional well-being, privacy, and personal preferences are respected;
- Have access to the full range of options for all pregnancy and birth options;
- Receive accurate and current information about the benefits & risks of all procedures, drugs, and tests suggested for use with the rights to informed consent and informed refusal;
- Receive support for making informed choices about what is best for her and her baby based on her individual values and beliefs.
Do No Harm
- Interventions should not be applied routinely during pregnancy, birth or the postpartum period.
- If complications arise during pregnancy, birth, or the postpartum period, medical treatments should be evidence-based.
- If complications arise during pregnancy, birth or the postpartum period, medical treatments should be evidence-based.
Responsibility
- Each caregiver is responsible for the quality of care she or he provides.
- Maternity care practice should be based not on the needs of the caregiver or provider, but solely on the needs of the mother and child.
- Each hospital and birth center is responsible for periodic review and evaluation of the effectiveness, risks and rates of use of its medical procedures for mothers and babies.
- Society, through both its government and the public health establishments, is responsible for ensuring access to maternity services for all women, and for monitoring the quality of those services.
- Individuals are ultimately responsible for making informed choices about the health care they and their babies receive.
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