Women and families have the right and responsibility to assume an active role in their own health care. Childbirth is a normal, healthy process and the role of the care-giver is to support and promote the normal process using medical interventions only when mother or baby are at risk. Confidence in this normal process should be promoted in all aspects of maternity care. Because childbirth affects more than just mothers and babies, maternity care should support all family members and promote the well-being of the family unit. Parents should have the freedom to choose the extent to which siblings and extended family members are involved in the childbearing experience.
Education is an essential part of quality health care.
Only when women and their families have access to information are they able to assume an active role in their own health care.