Informed Consent
Not so gentle reminder: IT’S YOUR BODY AND YOUR BABY!
I feel like informed consent goes way back into your childhood. Remember when you were a kid and you didn’t fully understand something so oftentimes you were either bullied or peer pressured into doing something you were unsure about? Well, sorry to say it, but some things don’t completely fizzle out by adulthood. Throughout reading this blog post, I want to share that I am not making general statements about the western medical system, rather I am bringing light to things that sometimes happen that I don’t think should be brushed under the rug. It’s astounding how many birthing people are manipulated into unnecessarily changing their birth plan because of coercion from a medical professional. The medical field is not the only area we see this, many people in power stretch the limits of what is actually appropriate to say or do. But this is your birth and you get to consent to everything! If you do not fully understand the medical jargon being used or are unsure if you're ready to stray from your original birth plan, its okay to say, “I’d like a couple of minutes of alone time to make my decision” or, “can you please tell me more about what that means?”. If you don’t feel comfortable saying either of those things, your doula will! A lot of laboring people don’t have the extra ounce of energy to stand up for themselves (and they shouldn't have to). A good tip I like to remind people of is BRAIN. Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition (what is your gut telling you) Nothing or Not now (what if we wait). When you run through BRAIN, it 1) gives you a little time to reflect and breathe and 2) helps better your decision making. As long as you and babe are healthy, there is no vital reason to intervene. Nobody has the right to start you on pitocin or push a c-section because you aren't “progressing fast enough”, nor should they begin a cervical exam without preparing you correctly and asking you if you're ready for it. You are in charge. You are progressing perfectly and managing your pain beautifully. None of this is to say that intervention is bad. If you’re feeling ready for intervention during your labor to help with pain or dilation or whatever it may be, your doula is there to support you with that decision. Here’s the bottom line, being properly informed on what is going on with your body is a basic human right. There should be no confusion or manipulation when being treated medically or elsewhere. Your doula is here to advocate for you!
