{"id":111798,"date":"2020-09-14T08:31:48","date_gmt":"2020-09-14T12:31:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/guide\/111798\/why-personalized-care-is-so-important-for-birthing-parents\/"},"modified":"2025-04-28T16:57:21","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T20:57:21","slug":"why-personalized-care-is-so-important-for-birthing-parents","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/111798\/why-personalized-care-is-so-important-for-birthing-parents\/","title":{"rendered":"Why personalized care is so important when pregnant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Getting good care while you’re pregnant really matters – it can help both you and your baby stay healthier. A critical element of prenatal care is when it’s tailored just for you and your specific needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personalized care should be a priority<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What are your preferences for labor? Is breastfeeding important to you? These are some of the questions that can be meaningful in figuring out what sort of care is important to you. More than anything, personalized care means a care provider views you as a unique individual, understands your needs and wishes, hears your concerns, helps you understand your health and options, and ensures that you feel in control of your body and care. And while an ideal birth experience isn\u2019t always possible for safety reasons, a good provider will always communicate why things are happening and do their best to meet as many of your wishes as possible while keeping you safe. It\u2019s also worth noting that virtual or telehealth appointments have become much more common. But if being seen in person for healthcare appointments is important to you, this is the sort of care that you can advocate for, too.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shared cultural understanding is important too<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Culture defines so many aspects of our lives, including our understanding and experience of pregnancy, birth, and parenthood. So finding support within your own cultural community can be empowering. This might mean working with a care provider who understands your religion, or grew up in your community, or who shares your background. If you\u2019re Black, you may want to work with a Black OB\/GYN, midwife, mental health professional, or doula. And if you plan to breastfeed, it might also mean that you take classes with a Black breastfeeding support group in your community before birth or attend breastfeeding support sessions postpartum, and that you work with a Black lactation consultant as needed. Care based on this sort of shared cultural understanding can also play a huge role in ensuring that your experience of pregnancy and postpartum is what you want it to be, and that you\u2019re given the opportunity to feel recognized and satisfied with your care. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits for birthing parents<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Health inequity surrounding childbirth is a devastating problem in the United States. Black women and families experience disproportionately worse maternal and infant health outcomes. There are many reasons for this, including limited access to care, dismissal of pain and other health concerns, and higher rates of underlying health conditions \u2014 racism and unconscious bias in the healthcare system are significant factors in each of these areas. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Care providers who provide personalized and culturally relevant care achieve better outcomes for the moms and families they support. For example, in addition to lowering rates of complications, those who work with midwives are happier and more satisfied with their care and have higher rates of breastfeeding. Much of this seems to stem from the midwifery philosophy and framework that views reproductive work as social justice work and equity as essential to health. Recent research shows that doulas can help lead to better health outcomes. People who work with doulas are less likely to experience complications that involve them or their baby, are less likely to have a baby with low birth weight, and have higher rates of breastfeeding.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You deserve care that centers you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of who you work with as a care provider, you deserve to receive care that centers your wants, needs, and wishes; care that ensures you feel heard; care that reminds you that you have agency over your body and care.<\/span>

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Empowered beginnings<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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