How to Communicate Effectively
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www.birthchoices.co.uk
Why is Communication Important for your birth?
When you're pregnant, and especially in labour, you can often find yourself feeling extremely vulnerable when faced with a medical opinion. Sometimes it feels as though decisions are being taken out of your hands, or you are being forced into a corner in which you don't feel comfortable.
At BirthChoices, we believe that the best birth experiences happen when the woman feels in control of the decision-making and that her concerns are being listened to. We also believe that good communication can really help in many situations. Writing a birth plan can be a part of this process, but we've also uncovered a great acronym which may help you during difficult times.
We're going to give you a few simple tools that you & your partner can use when discussing your options with medical staff, providing you with a structure of questioning which may help in a sticky situation. Of course, there are always people who won't respond in the way you'd like, even when you do use this method, however, we hope that trying this technique may make a beneficial difference to your birth experience.
So what's the secret to better communication?
Being flummoxed by medicine & medical opinion can be very frightening & often puts you in a position where you feel confused about whether you may harm yourself or your baby if you refuse or accept a treatment.
During your pregnancy, birth or postnatal period, if you feel a health professional hasn't explained something to you properly & you're being pushed in a certain direction, speak-up & ask them to explain fully what they are suggesting. Don't be afraid to say when you don't understand what is being proposed – whether it's a procedure or a medication - you could even ask them to draw you a picture or to write it down.
Once you've understood the situation better, but you need more information in order to make a decision, the clever acronym you need to remember is BRAINED :
Benefits – What are the researched BENEFITS of this procedure / medication?
Risks – What are the researched RISKS involved? – you have the right to ask for the reference to the evidence / research on which this is based. Being told something is ‘high risk' may not be enough information for you. Ask, for example, what percentage the risk carries.
Alternatives – What are the ALTERNATIVES? – What else could we try?
Instincts – What are your INSTINCTS telling you?
Nothing – What happens if we do NOTHING?
Evaluate – EVALUATE the information & give yourself time to think. Don't let others pressure you into making a decision too soon. If this is something that happens when you are pregnant, thank the health professional for their information & tell them you'll come back to them with a decision very soon. If it is during your birth, ask them for 5 minutes alone with your partner so you can discuss the matter.
Decide – make your DECISION & then own it – you have to accept the consequences or outcome of that decision, good or bad.
