So often I have been asked the question “How do I know if it’s necessary?”
I so vividly remember feeling this way my self as a first time mom. We live in a country where unnecessary interventions are rampant and families often don’t know how to decide what is necessary and what isn’t. We all want to do what is best for our families and words like “your baby will die” will quickly scare us into submission. So how do we navigate this complicated culture?
Here are some simple tips I give my clients:
Start with B.R.A.I.N.
Benefits- what are the benefits of this intervention?
Risks- what are the risks of this intervention? (if someone says none they are lying; every intervention has benefits and risks)
Alternatives- what are the alternatives to the intervention you are suggesting
Intuition - What does your intuition say? A lot of parenting is a mix of facts and what you intuitively think is the right path to take………..and that begins the moment you become pregnant.
Nothing- what happens if we do nothing?
After going through B.R.A.I.N. with your care provider the next step is to ask for 10 minutes to privately discuss the options offered. If something is a true emergency you will know after you request this.
Remember that you should always be given full informed consent. Here’s some things to remember. Full informed consent means you have the right to refuse as well. Hospital policies never trump your rights; you are the head of your medical team. Birth is a normal physiological function. And lastly, the need for intervention should be rare in healthy low risk women.