Frimley Health & Care publish their guidelines online at http://frimleyhealthandcare.org.uk/.../frimley-health.../ in order to help you understand their care pathways and to support you to make decisions.
Within these guidelines, it is stated 'The interpretation and application of clinical guidelines will remain the responsibility of the individual clinician.'
What does this mean for you?
You have the opportunity to know in advance what treatments and procedures may be offered in various circumstances or stages during your pregnancy.
You have the opportunity to understand how your personal circumstances/conditions may shape the standard care you are offered.
You have the opportunity to discuss how this advice applies specifically to you and your pregnancy with your clinician.
Your clinician is able to review your situation on a case by case basis and may well support your wishes to birth outside the guidelines.
If you would like to accept an offered procedure as suggested in the guidelines, you can.
If you would like to decline an offered procedure as suggested in the guidelines, you can.
You do not HAVE to do anything. You are ALLOWED to do anything you want (though you may not have a legal right to certain elements of care.) It is not black and white but it is your decision.