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Health & Fitness

Informed Consent - What Is It & Why It's Important to Use It




By understanding informed consent, you will be better able to actively engage in your maternal health decisions and be much more likely to have the birth of your baby be a positive experience.

Informed Consent means that you have obtained all the information necessary to make informed medical decisions about your care.  This applies to tests, procedures, medications and treatments.

In the case of maternity care, informed consent also gives you the authority to decide about the care that affects your baby.  Informed consent is the legal right you have to make health care choices for yourself and your baby.

Consider this practice during prenatal exams and also during labor.  If a medical test, procedure or medication is suggested, follow this acronym to ensure you are receiving all information to make your informed decision:

 B R A N


B - Your OB or Midwife must present the benefits
R - Your OB or Midwife must present the risks
A - Your OB or Midwife must present alternatives (even if the alternative is to do nothing)
N - this stand for Nothing - or Informed Refusal

You have a right to clear and full explanations about your care and answers to any questions you may have.

By law, you have the right to decide whether to accept the care that is offered (Informed Consent) , or not to accept that care, (Informed Refusal).


Making informed decisions means that the patient is responsible for learning the best available information on maternity care.  It is important for families to learn about options, take comprehensive childbirth education classes, get answers to their questions and decide on their birth preferences well before labor begins. 


Here are some tips that might help completely understand procedures/tests/what might happen during labor:

While talking with caregivers, and if you don't understand the information, you can say:

  • I don't understand.
  • Please explain this to me.
  • What are my other options?
  • What could happen to me or my baby if I do that?  Or if I don't?
  • Please show me research to support what you are recommending.
  • Where can I get more information?
  • I'm uncomfortable with what you are recommending.
  • I'm  not ready to make a decision yet.

ANY questions you have are worth asking.  When answers are not clear to you, ask again until you understand.


Rights of your Caregivers:

Yes, your caregivers have rights too.  They have the right to agree or disagree to provide care that you request.  EX:  If a woman requests a cesarean and has no medical need for this procedure, her caregiver has the right to refuse to do the surgery.

It is of utmost importance to have a good working relationship with your provider - this includes:
  • open communication
  • mutual respect
  • shared points of view
If you feel that during the time of your care that you disagree with your caregiver or the policies at your hospital or birth center, it would be wise to explore other options.  Do not settle on your maternity care.  Find the right provider out there for you - they exist!  It may just take some looking on your part to find them. 

Claim ownership of your birth. Make sure you are informed & take the opportunity to consider your options before consenting or refusing procedures during your birth.


Peaceful Birthing is here to support this wonderful journey that you are on.   Our passion is to help you discover your birth options and help design a plan that is right for you.  Whether you are  birthing at home or at the hospital; natural birth or using anesthesia or having a surgical birth, we support you.



More information about informed consent and other helpful topics located at http://www.childbirthconnection.org/



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