Informed Consent, Using your BRAIN, and the thoughts of a Midwife
Informed consent is a crucial aspect of midwifery care, ensuring that you, as an expectant parent, are fully aware and agreeable to the care plan and procedures during your pregnancy and childbirth. Here’s what you need to know:
1. What is Informed Consent?
Informed consent is the process where your midwife provides you with all necessary information about your care options, including potential risks, benefits, and alternatives. This allows you to make knowledgeable decisions about your pregnancy and birth.
2. Key Elements in Midwifery:
Disclosure: Your midwife will explain the procedures, interventions, and potential outcomes related to your care.
Understanding: Ensure you grasp the information provided, and feel free to ask questions or request clarification.
Voluntariness: Your choices should be made freely, without pressure or coercion.
Competence: You should be in a position to understand and make decisions about your care.
3. Your Rights:
You have the right to be involved in decisions about your care and to refuse or accept any procedure or intervention. Your midwife will support you in making choices that align with your values and preferences.
4. Communication is Key:
Open dialogue with your midwife helps ensure that your care is tailored to your needs and preferences. Discuss any concerns or preferences you have about your birth plan, and make sure you feel comfortable with the proposed care.
Informed consent is about partnership and respect in your care journey. Don’t hesitate to engage in conversations and ask questions to make the best choices for you and your baby.
Using your BRAIN
When faced with making decisions for your care sometimes it can be nice to slow down and go through a process step by step to make sure you have ALL of the information. The BRAIN acronym can really help with this!
BRAIN stands for:
B - Benefits: What are the potential advantages of this option or intervention? Understanding the positive outcomes can help you weigh the decision more clearly.
R - Risks: What are the possible risks or complications associated with this choice? Knowing the downsides is crucial for making a well-rounded decision.
A - Alternatives: Are there other options available that might suit your needs or preferences better? Exploring alternatives can provide you with a broader perspective.
I - Intuition: What does your gut feeling or intuition tell you about this choice? Sometimes your instincts can offer valuable insights that complement the factual information.
N - Nothing: What happens if you decide not to proceed with this option? What happens if you take some time to wait and see? Choosing to do nothing can also be a valid option!
Using this tool can help you gather all the information you need to make the best decision for you, your body, and your baby.
Thoughts from a Midwife:
Through the years working as an advocate for parents both in hospital and in a home setting, I've noticed a couple of things. These things have shaped me as a midwife.
1. Ask before touching, ALWAYS- One thing that drove me bonkers in clinical settings was being told I was being touched, not being asked if they could touch me.
This could look like:
"Would you like to listen to baby's heartbeat today?"
"Is it okay if I feel for your fundus so we can measure your belly?"
"Is it okay if I touch your belly to feel for your baby's position? If you're ever made uncomfortable by my touch, tell me to stop immediately!"
In labor it can look like:
"Hey there, would it be okay if we take a listen to baby's heart tones?"
"Your baby's shoulder is stuck, I would need to put my hands in you to help resolve this. Can I help your baby out?" (I've personally said this to a parent during an ACTIVE issue, I spoke out loud the entire time and kept them informed. This conversation took 5 seconds, and my hands were poised and ready to act as soon as I had the okay.)
Postpartum it can look like:
"Is it okay if we do your baby's newborn exam now?"
"Can I check your bleeding to make sure it's within normal limits?"
"Would it be okay to check you for tears? Here is an explanation on how and why I check for tears. If you are ever uncomfortable, please let me know and I will stop. Do you have any questions before we begin?"
I always tell my clients that they have every right to ask questions. We talk a lot in pregnancy about informed consent, about what I offer, and why I would offer things in certain circumstances!
2. When people are well informed, they feel the MOST comfortable with their care provider. Even if an emergency happens, I've noticed that parents who were well educated and well informed, process the birth a lot easier.
Bringing clients into the fold as part of the care team is so important and it allows them to take charge of their care!
3. Relationship building during prenatal care is extremely important. When someone spends more time with you through pregnancy and knows you will be the one to attend them for their birth. It can be very comforting to the client. There is also a level of trust that is built.
It is YOUR body and YOUR baby. You should be well informed about the process, issues, and options you have! You should trust that you and your provider are working towards the same goals and that they see you as an individual!
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