I’m NOT anti intervention

It’s a common misconception about people fully advocating for pregnant and birthing people.

But I have never met anyone who hates intervention indiscriminately.

Heck, I LOVE intervention.

Truly.

Appropriate intervention is a wonderful thing. It saves lives and sanity. And I will be the first person to suggest it should I feel it appropriate and support it if the pregnant person feels they want it.

HOWEVER.

What I don’t love is intervention that is not applied appropriately.

That goes completely against the wishes of the pregnant person.

For which consent has been coerced.

Intervention that is applied as a blanket policy.

That does not actually benefit the individual all things considered (there are many things to consider, EVEN if the research shows this intervention leads to better outcomes on a population level).

Intervention that leaves people feeling like they had no choice.

Intervention that ultimately cascades into more and more intervention, when on balance, leaving well alone would likely have been more appropriate.

Intervention that happens after scaring people absolutely silly.

I DO love intervention that happens after nuanced discussion and true informed consent.

Intervention that makes the person birthing the baby more powerful.

Intervention that enhances the persons experience.

Lifesaving/damage averting intervention in emergencies (with consent obv).

I guess the tricky bit is walking the line between appropriate and inappropriate intervention. It’s not an easy line to walk sometimes, especially when there is no TIME or *relationship* to discuss things in nuanced manner so decisions can be made without coercion and pressure.

But we ALWAYS need to listen, hear, enable and support.

Not tell, scare, pressure and coerce.