Providing safe, comprehensive home birth services to Coastal Georgia!
The 13 Rules of Obstetrics and Women's Health
In the course of teaching students and residents, I developed 13 rules to live by:
1. NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW YOUR CLIENT BETTER THAN SHE DOES!
2. If someone's meds are working well, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON’T MESS WITH THEM!!
3. Every client has the right to refuse, stop or pause any examination, for any reason, at any time, without any explanation needed!
4. Informed consent is EVERYTHING! Every woman has the right to make her own informed decisions regarding her care. Your job is to present risks vs. benefits, and then let her make the decision. Then respect her decision, even if you don’t agree with it!
5. Listen more than you talk. Back away from the keyboard. Put the phone down. Really listen to her.
6. At least 1 in 4 women are survivors of sexual trauma . That’s at least 5 people every clinic day. Practice trauma- informed care. (P.S. - If someone's therapist knows your name, you're doing it wrong!)
7. Be very careful about labels and assumptions!!! Incorrect diagnoses (e.g., drug seeking behavior, bipolar disorder, etc.) stick to the chart like meconium to a baby’s butt, and can doom someone to terrible care forever!
8. Always ask about pain....and believe her answer. If she says something is wrong, she's almost always correct!
9. If a multip says she's about to have a baby, BELIEVE HER!!!
10. No one knows everything. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of your clients. If she’s lived with a rare condition all her life, I guarantee you she knows more about it than you do! Be humble.
11. Don’t be in a hurry, even when you are! Always be with the patient in front of you.
12. There is no substitute for knowing your client. Learn everything you can about her. Take every opportunity to talk with her. Meet her family. Labor with her, if you can. Trust is built over time.
13. Don’t be a dick.