Respectful Childbirth Week: Rights, Dignity, and Breastfeeding
Every year, National Respectful Childbirth Week brings together healthcare professionals, organizations, and families around a single message: every woman has the right to experience childbirth in a way that respects her choices, her body, and her dignity. This is a fundamental right that, however, is still far from being a reality for everyone.
At 23 Mai Paris, we support mothers long before and long after childbirth. In this article, we explore what a respectful childbirth experience entails, why it’s essential, how to prepare for it, and the deep connection it has with breastfeeding. Because respect begins at birth.
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What is Respectful Childbirth Week?
Origins and Objectives
Origins and Objectives
National Respectful Childbirth Week is organized by the Collectif Interassociatif Autour de la NaissancE (CIANE) and its partner organizations. It is typically held in the spring and aims to raise awareness among pregnant women, parents, healthcare professionals, and the general public about respecting women’s rights in the delivery room—through conferences, discussions, personal accounts, and local initiatives.
What "respectful childbirth" entails
- Informed consent: Any procedure requires information and consent.
- Respecting personal choices: birth plan, position, and support person.
- The right to information: understanding what happens at each stage.
- Physical integrity: no actions may be performed without explicit consent.
- Maintaining the bond: immediate skin-to-skin contact, if possible.
- Respecting the pace: don't automatically speed up the work.
Key takeaway: Respectful childbirth is neither a luxury nor a trend. It is a fundamental right recognized by the WHO and enshrined in the code of ethics for healthcare professionals.
Why is respectful childbirth still a struggle?
Obstetric violence: What is it?
The term "obstetric violence" refers to acts, words, or attitudes that violate women’s dignity, physical integrity, or consent during pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period:
- Procedures performed without consent: episiotomy, unannounced vaginal examination.
- Hurtful words: "Stop yelling; you're going to scare the others."
- Minimizing pain: "It's not that painful."
- Mandatory decisions: initiation not medically justified.
- Separation of mother and baby without medical justification.
- Failure to follow the birth plan without explanation.
In France, 1 in 5 women has had a negative experience during childbirth, and according to some studies, fewer than 50% of birth plans are followed.
Why do these situations persist?
Staff shortages limit the time available for each patient. Rigid protocols leave little room for individualized care. Training on informed consent and communication remains inadequate. Medical culture sometimes prioritizes efficiency over patient experience. And many women simply do not know that they have the right to refuse.
Women's Fundamental Rights During Childbirth
What the law says
In France, patients’ rights are protected by the law of March 4, 2002, known as the “Kouchner Law”: the right to information (to receive clear information about each procedure), the right to consent (to accept or refuse any medical procedure), the right to dignity (to be treated with respect in all circumstances), the right to have a companion (to freely choose the person who accompanies you), the right to access medical records, and the right to file a complaint in the event of a breach.
The Birth Plan: Your Communication Tool
A birth plan is a written document in which you outline your wishes for your delivery. It is not a contract, but a valuable tool for communication. It may include: your preferred position (lying down, standing, in water), pain management (epidural or natural methods), your choice of support people (partner, doula, mother), a request for immediate skin-to-skin contact, the first feeding in the delivery room, the desired atmosphere (dim lighting, music), and your preferences regarding photography.
To help you prepare for childbirth and the breastfeeding that follows with peace of mind, our Breastfeeding t-shirts are perfect to pack in your hospital bag: they’ll come in handy right from the first hours after birth.
The close link between respectful childbirth and breastfeeding
A continuum of respect
Respectful childbirth and breastfeeding are deeply interconnected. A positive childbirth experience directly promotes the establishment of breastfeeding: immediate skin-to-skin contact (possible only if the mother’s wishes are respected), the first feeding in the delivery room (facilitated by respecting the mother’s rhythm), the absence of mother-baby separation, the absence of supplemental feedings without consent (informed consent), emotional support (self-confidence in breastfeeding), and the absence of trauma (a traumatic birth directly impacts breastfeeding).
The Impact of Trauma on Breastfeeding
A difficult childbirth can have direct consequences: intense stress can inhibit milk production, a sense of loss of control can lead to mistrust of one’s own body, unmanaged pain can create a negative association with the baby, early separation can delay breastfeeding, and postpartum PTSD can lead to difficulties with bonding and breastfeeding.
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What the research says
- Immediate skin-to-skin contact doubles the chances of successful breastfeeding.
- The first feeding in the delivery room is associated with longer-term breastfeeding.
- Emotional support during childbirth boosts confidence in breastfeeding.
- Avoiding separation strengthens the attachment instinct.
How to Prepare for a Respectful Birth
Before giving birth
- Learn about your rights: know what you can ask for and what you can refuse.
- Creating a birth plan: putting your wishes in writing.
- Choosing a maternity hospital: not all of them take the same approach.
- Meet the team: build trust before the big day.
- Mental preparation: visualization, sophrology, hypnobirthing.
- Choosing your birth companion: a trusted person or a doula.
During childbirth
You have the right to ask for an explanation ("Can you explain why?"), to say no ("I don't want this"), to ask for time ("Let me think about it"), to change your mind ("I'd like to try something else"), and to consult another professional if necessary.
Partners in Respectful Childbirth
- The doula: continuous non-medical support.
- The private midwife: personalized care.
- The prepared partner: a spokesperson if you are unable to speak.
- Nonprofit organizations: information and support.
- The birth plan: a reference document for the delivery room.
Testimonials: Childbirth Experiences at Both Ends of the Spectrum
"When the midwife asked me if I was okay with each step, I realized I had the right to say no. That changed everything." — Claire, Mathieu's mom
"Immediate skin-to-skin contact got my breastfeeding off to a great start before I even realized what was happening. I owe this wonderful moment to the team who respected my birth plan." — Laura, Zoé's mom
Mothers who have experienced a respectful childbirth report increased self-confidence, a sense of security, a smooth start to breastfeeding, and a more peaceful postpartum period.
Difficult Childbirth Experiences: The Consequences
Conversely, mothers who have not been respected describe feelings of betrayal (“No one asked for my opinion”), fear (PTSD, postpartum anxiety), attachment difficulties (“My baby was taken away from me”), guilt about breastfeeding, and a lasting sense of helplessness.
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Alternatives and options
Different places of birth
| Location | Benefits | Points to note |
|---|---|---|
| Large maternity ward | Maximum safety, technical facilities | Less personalized |
| Small maternity ward | More humane, more time | Fewer specialists on site |
| Birth center | Highly personalized, well-known midwife | Natural childbirth only |
| Home birth | Total privacy, maximum freedom | Limited medical supervision |
All of the following methods are compatible with breastfeeding: epidural (medication-based pain relief), TENS (electrical nerve stimulation), baths or showers (hydrotherapy), hypnobirthing (self-hypnosis), sophrology (guided relaxation), and acupuncture (traditional medicine).
The Birth Plan: Sample Wording
- "I'd like skin-to-skin contact right away, if possible."
- "I'd like to breastfeed my baby in the delivery room."
- "Please do not give him formula without my permission."
- "I'd like to wait before cutting the cord (delayed cord clamping)."
- "I prefer soft lighting, if possible."
- "My partner can take pictures."
When packing your hospital bag and thinking ahead to breastfeeding, check out our article "How Many Nursing Outfits Do You Really Need?" to make sure you don't forget anything.
After Childbirth: Respecting the Postpartum Period
The fourth quarter: a right to respect as well
Respect doesn’t end at birth. In the postpartum period, this means: no pressure regarding your body (“When are you going to get back to your old size?”), support for breastfeeding without pressure either way, respect for your recovery pace (every mom is different), taking postpartum depression seriously, and having an informed and involved partner.
Respect for breastfeeding: a natural extension
Just like childbirth, breastfeeding deserves respect: the choice to breastfeed or not (without pressure), the duration chosen by the mother (no “Is it going to take much longer?”), the right to breastfeed in public (recognized and worth defending), difficulties taken seriously with accessible professional support, and weaning respected when the mother decides.
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Resources for a respectful childbirth experience
Organizations to know: CIANE (ciane.net) for advocacy, Bien Naître for information and support, AFAR (afar.info) for home birth, and DONA International (dona.org) for doula training.
Support professionals: the independent midwife (personalized care and preparation), the doula (continuous non-medical support), your trusted OB/GYN (medical care and communication), the perinatal psychologist (if you’re experiencing trauma or anxiety), and the lactation consultant (for breastfeeding).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really say no during childbirth?
Yes, absolutely. Unless it’s a life-threatening emergency, you have the right to refuse any medical procedure. This may seem difficult to do in the context of the delivery room, but it is your fundamental right. Prepare yourself mentally to exercise this right before giving birth.
Will anyone actually read my birth plan?
It depends on the maternity ward. To maximize the chances that it will be taken into account: bring it to your prenatal appointments, bring a copy with you on the day of delivery, and discuss it with your midwife as soon as you arrive. Keep your expectations realistic: it’s a tool for communication, not a contract.
What should I do if I had a difficult childbirth experience?
There are several options available to you. Talk to a healthcare professional (midwife, perinatal psychologist). Contact CIANE or support organizations. If you believe you have been subjected to procedures without your consent, you can file a complaint with the Medical Board or the facility’s administration.
How do you choose a maternity hospital that adheres to these principles?
Visit several maternity wards before giving birth. Ask direct questions: "What is your policy on skin-to-skin contact?", "How do you handle birth plans?", "What is your episiotomy rate?" Maternity wards with the “Baby-Friendly” (IAB) certification are committed to practices that support breastfeeding and natural childbirth.
To choose nursing clothes that are perfect for your first few days after giving birth, our Breastfeeding pyjamas are perfect for nights in the maternity ward: comfortable, practical, and allowing you to breastfeed without exposing yourself.
What is the Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI)?
The IAB is a WHO/UNICEF certification that recognizes maternity wards committed to practices that support breastfeeding and respectful childbirth. Certified maternity wards are committed, in particular, to skin-to-skin contact, avoiding the use of formula without medical indication, and providing breastfeeding support.
Conclusion
Every year, Respectful Childbirth Week reminds us that giving birth is a foundational, intimate, and deeply human experience that deserves to be approached with dignity and respect. A respectful childbirth is not only good for the mother: it is good for the baby, for breastfeeding, for family bonds, and for society as a whole.
At 23 Mai Paris, we deeply believe in this chain of respect that begins at birth and extends to every aspect of motherhood, including breastfeeding. Our clothing is designed to support mothers with kindness, practicality, and elegance, because every mother deserves to feel respected, supported, and beautiful at every stage of her journey.
Discover our collection of nursing wear and enjoy motherhood with the respect and comfort you deserve.
