How to use your BRAIN when you are in labor.
Tags: Labor, Parenting, Pregnancy

Photo by Alicia Petresc on Unsplash

As a childbirth educator and doula, pregnancy and childbirth are my passions and I actively have to stop myself from talking to every pregnant person I see. I have taught childbirth classes and prenatal classes to my doula clients in many setting. The one thing I realize that many classes don’t teach how to handle questions from your provider when in labor. When you are in the middle of a contraction, when all your class knowledge has left you and you can’t focus on anything at all except getting through a contraction and then resting is possible while you wait for the next one.

I teach my clients to use their BRAIN when your provider decides to come into your birthing space and ask/tell you they are giving you Pitocin, or maybe they want to break your waters. BRAIN is an acronym that stands for:

B-Benefits

R-Risks

A-alternatives

I-intuition

N-nothing

When your provider wants you to make a decision or agree with their suggestions during labor, most of us just stare at them and nod or shrug, especially if you are in later stages of labor. But, you need to give yourself a little time to make a decision. You need information before you can make a decision. The first question is “What are the benefits?” For example, your provider decided that your labor is taking too long and wants to give you Pitocin to augment labor and get it into a better pattern. You and preferably your partner needs to ask about the benefits of Pitocin.

The next question is “What are the risks” So, what are the risks of Pitocin? Some of these include overstimulation of the uterus, uterine rupture, infections, to name a few. Your provider needs to be honest with you and list any risks for the intervention they are proposing.

The third question is “What are the alternatives?” Keeping with the scenario of Pitocin, the alternatives could be walking, sitting on the toilet, sitting up in different positions if bedbound that allow gravity to help with labor. There are many many different alternatives.

The fourth question is more of an internal question. “What does your intuition say?” Studies show that the intuition of the laboring person is almost as good as the medical providers. Your intuition is important and a vital part of your decision making along with your providers information.

And finally, the last question is “What if we do nothing?” You have your list of risks, benefits, alternatives and your own feelings but what if we do nothing and just wait? Or wait until you have a chance to use your alternatives or at least wait until your contraction is over and you are coherent again?

This questions are tools to have in your bag of tricks to have an informed labor. You and your partner need to practice these questions a few times before labor so you can feel confident to ask them. You should research the answers to common interventions so you can have the answers in your head where they will promptly disappear during your labor, but should come back as soon as your provider starts to explain them.

Sometimes labor can take a turn and you will not be able to use these questions because time is of the essence. But in most low risk labors, you should be able to get the answers to your questions and be prepared to make an informed decision.

Don’t forget, this is your labor and your baby!