Episode 50: Conversational Boundaries

Part of the “getting to know you” process for many clients often involves questions of a personal nature. As a birth worker is important that you consider where your conversational boundaries are. Especially when it comes to more personal or controversial topics of discussion.

Historically these conversations often centered around topics such as marital status, children, and occasionally religion, circumcision, vaccination, etc. However, in the wake of the pandemic, these conversations have begun to shift.

Families are navigating their comfort levels to potential exposure to COVID-19. As a result, we are seeing an increase in questions that are focused on the birth worker’s medical history. Questions about social distancing and isolation practices are now more common. As is the question of personal vaccination status.

As birth workers, we must examine our comfort with answering questions of this nature. In addition, we need to consider carefully how we would like to approach these discussions.

The client is always within their rights to ask about the topics that are important to them. The birth worker is also within their rights to chose to answer or to decline to discuss these topics. How we choose to navigate these conversations will reflect on the industry as a whole.

Come join us as we discuss the many ways to navigate conversations around these sensitive topics and how to establish your conversational boundaries!