What it Means to Use Your B.R.A.I.N.S

Throughout pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum, women are faced with SO many questions, options, and interventions that we can quickly become overwhelmed. As mothers, we want to do what's best for our babies but we don't always know what that is. That's where I come in! As a doula, I’m here to make sure you know what's happening, why it's happening, and what your other options may be.

You may not be sure if having a doula is right for you (feel free to send me a message, I’d love to grab a coffee with you and go over any questions you might have about what I do as a doula or who I am in general!) Whether or not you choose to have a doula at your birth, I want to make sure you are equipped to advocate for yourself using your B.R.A.I.N.S. in labor. After all, you are your own best advocate!

First and foremost, you need to know what B.R.A.I.N.S. stands for.

B- Benefits

What are the benefits of the suggested intervention? What is the main reason the intervention is being suggested? Who will benefit from the intervention: mother or baby?

R- Risks

What are the risks? What could go wrong? What are the possible side effects? What is the relative risk for me specifically?

A- Alternatives

What are the alternatives? Can I achieve the same outcome differently?

I-Intuition

Mother's intuition is real; nobody knows you or your baby as well as you do. Ask yourself what your intuition is telling you. Moms have gut feelings for a reason. You can gather infographics as a visual representation of data to make complex information easier to digest.

N- No/Not right now

What happens if I say no? What happens if I wait an hour?

S- Second opinion

Ask for a second opinion.

Now that you know what B.R.A.I.N.S. stands for let's talk a little bit about why it's important to know.

When you present to your OB/GYN office for your first prenatal appointment, you are often resigning yourself to a standard schedule of procedures including but not limited to ultrasounds and diagnostic testing for both mother and baby.

We’re taught as a society to not question anyone in authority (including doctors) so instead of using our B.R.A.I.N.S. we often set our thoughts and feelings aside and follow the recommendations of those who “know better.” While there is definitely reason to hire an educated and experienced team to care for you during pregnancy, that is no substitute for a mother’s intuition. There is no better time to take control of your health than during pregnancy.

There may be times healthcare providers encourage procedures that you are not comfortable with or haven't been properly informed about. You might be told there are no other options, (which may be true in certain circumstances,) but you should still be informed about what is happening and why.

Every provider and hospital are going to have different preferences, policies, and protocols. Some may have different time limits on how long you can labor after your water breaks before encouraging a C-section. Some may suggest or do procedures to make things “easier” or “faster” for you without first informing you of the risks associated with such procedures. I highly recommend doing your research on the different hospitals and providers in your area to find one that aligns the best with your values.

For this example, we're going to be using the gestational diabetes screening.

The most common way modern healthcare tests for gestational diabetes, is by giving mothers a sugary drink then testing their blood sugars 1-3 hours after. Many providers don't provide alternative options to the drink or make it difficult to even discuss using an alternative method. Here is a perfect example of using your B.R.A.I.N.S. to properly assess if you're comfortable going through with this form of testing and finding out what your other options might be.

B- What are the benefits of knowing whether or not you have gestational diabetes?

R- What all ingredients are in the drink? How can the drink affect my baby or me? Are there any side effects? (I strongly recommend looking up the ingredient list on the Glucola drink and doing your research on it).

A- What are my alternative options to the Glucola drink? (Some providers may let you do a big pancake breakfast, eating a handful of jelly beans, or do fasting and non-fasting glucose readings over a period of time while testing your blood sugar with a diabetic kit.)

I- Follow your intuition and do your research on what option would be best for you and your baby and what you're comfortable with.

N- What would happen if I decline the glucose screening?

S- Ask for a second opinion.

This is just one small example of how a modern pregnancy procedure is done without properly informing you of the risk-to-benefit ratio. This is why it can be very beneficial to consult with a doula, so you know all your options, have help finding evidence based information, and have someone to advocate for you throughout your journey of bringing a new life into the world.

I hope you feel more confident moving forward through your pregnancy and motherhood. Use your B.R.A.I.N.S. whenever things are overwhelming or when you feel as though your concerns are not being heard. Feel free to contact me anytime if you'd like to chat about some choices you might face in your pregnancy, and how a doula can help you through them. Follow me on Facebook and IG to stay up-to-date on current openings and classes along with lots of great information to help you navigate pregnancy and everything after!

Danielle Carter CD(DONA)

✉️ daniellecdoula@gmail.com

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