Use your BRAIN
I’m not trying to be rude! But it’s so important to use your BRAIN when making big decisions during pregnancy and birth (and they all feel like big decisions). BRAIN is an acronym of the five steps to an informed, considered decision making process. If you take the time to run through each of the steps, you’ll find you feel respected and in-the-know about your choices - and feeling listened to and respected is key for a positive birth experience, which at the end of the day is what we all want.
Here’s a saveable, pin-able, printable, remember-able run down of the five steps of BRAIN:
In birth and in pregnancy, things can come up that you might not have been planning on or aware of before. Using the BRAIN acronym is helpful in clearing up any confusion, getting all the information you need and making your decision a clear and informed one.
Imagine you’re in labor. Your contractions are regular, and there’s nothing wrong with baby’s heart rate. The OB has just come in and offered you Pitocin (a drug used to stimulate strong contractions), because you’ve been here at the hospital for a while, and, well, it will speed things up a bit.
You, using your BRAIN:
(B)enefits: How will this help me? How will this help my baby? What will it achieve?
(R)isks: How will it affect me? How will it affect the baby? What are the chances of needing other interventions (pain relief, monitoring etc) as a result of taking the pitocin?
(A)lternatives: What are my other options right now? What can I try instead?
(I)nstinct: Deep down, how does this make me feel? Relieved? Scared? Angry? Calm? Sad? What decision is going to leave me feeling the best? Does this go against my original thoughts? Have I changed my mind? (this is a time for real honesty with yourself.) Most of all… what is my gut feeling on this?
(N)ow, need more time, never: Is this really necessary? Can I just keep going as I am? Can we discuss this later? Can we wait an hour and discuss again? What happens if I say no?
These kinds of questions should leave you with some satisfactory answers, and enough knowledge to make an informed decision. Any good OB will gladly take the time to talk through your options and answer any questions you have. Remember, it is your right to be informed and aware of any possible development during your birth. It is also your right to consent to or deny any suggested procedure or intervention. Your doctor and nurses are there to provide care to you. This is your pregnancy and birth. You do not have to be the well behaved person. You have the power here.
Let’s continue with our example. After receiving answers to all those questions, you have come to a decision that feels right for you. You have considered the options, and made a choice based on good information and your own good judgement. Here are some options for the decision you might reach (and I want to stress that this is a very personal decision and each person’s response is individual and right for them).
◇ No thanks, I’m going to keep going as I am, since there’s nothing wrong with the baby.
◇ I’m going to discuss this with my partner first.
◇ Can I be left alone for an hour or two and then reassess?
◇ I’m going to try some position changes and mental exercises with my doula first. (no bias here 😉)
◇ I’ll take the pitocin, but I want to maintain my mobility and choose my own positions.
◇ I’ll take the pitocin, and I’d like to discuss pain management options so I don’t feel unable to cope.
Using your BRAIN is a great tool for feeling informed and confident about the decisions you might need to make during your pregnancy or birth - whether it’s an extra screening test that is suggested, or a procedure in the labor room that is offered to you, you can use BRAIN to feel positive about the choices you make. And as is the case with most things pregnancy & birth, you will find BRAIN is also useful for your parenting choices. There is always time to take a moment to run through the 5 steps (very, very rarely is there any decision that needs to be made in less than a few minutes). So gather your power, take a minute and use your BRAIN.
