Following on from bg's thread about owning our choices, I have been thinking about our perceptions of choice and the extent we really choose to do things.

I am mainly thinking about systematic things that prevent an empowered decision, so that things that seem to be within our power are actually weighed one way or the other. The intervention rates at hospital spring to mind. How often do we hear of births not going to plan, and often it is because of the cascade of intervention that occurs. Yes it does often save lives, but how much of the interventions are actually wanted by the patients, and how much is scare tactics and procedure? Is it still a choice?

And then the issue of breastfeeding. Many women feel they do not have a choice, but if statistics are correct, over 80% want to breastfeed when the baby is born and yet a small amount succeed. Obviously something happens that prevents them achieving this goal, so is that really a choice to stop?

And so what do we do with this kind of information? Do we help people see they may be disenfranchised, or is it better to just accept and move forward?

To use the horse and water example. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink, but does the horse know there won't be another drink for a long time? Does it know it might be thirsty until it does drink?