How to use your BRAIN to make pregnancy and labor decisions

How to use your BRAIN to make decisions with your provider about your pregnancy and labor. Topics and situations come up in pregnancy and labor that you will have to make a decision about.

Example: Do Do I need a vaginal check at 36 weeks? Do I need to be induced at 40 weeks if I don’t feel ready? Do I have to push if it doesn’t feel right yet?

It’s hard to make important decisions on the spot in the middle of a quick 15 minute appointment [when you are half naked and feeling vulnerable]. We are breaking things down to help you ask the right questions and easily make the right decision for you and your baby.

B stands for BENEFITS. What are the benefits to myself and my baby? How will making this decision help me?

R stands for RISKS. What are the risks? And how likely are the risks to occur? Is this decision safe for my baby and me? What are the risks for choosing this path?

A stands for ALTERNATIVES. What are the alternatives? Do I have other options? What are they? [And what are the risks and benefits of those as well]

I stands for INTUITION. What is your intuition? How do I feel? What does my intuition tell me? How will I feel about it later if I don’t follow my gut?

N stands for NOTHING. What happens if we do nothing? Am I ready to decide now? Do I need more time to think about my options? Is there a risk if we pause for 15 minutes? What about an hour? A week?

You should never feel pressured into anything in pregnancy or labor that isn’t life threatening and isn’t an emergency. Take your time to process, use your BRAIN, ask the right questions and do your research so you can make an informed decision. Many parents choose to hire a birth doula to be an informed, educated support person who is hired by you to advocate in your best interests.