Informed consent means that you are given all the relevant information: the risks, the benefits, and any possible alternatives. This allows you to make a fully informed decision about your care. It places the power in your hands, helping you to choose what feels right for you and your baby based on your own values, preferences and circumstances.

Sadly, in the current maternity system, informed consent is not always practised as it should be. Many decisions in the birth space are made under pressure or from a place of coercion. Women often find themselves agreeing to whatever is being recommended by professionals, without being offered the full picture or time to consider their options. 

This is why it is so important, especially in the lead up to birth, that women ask questions. Ask as many as you need to feel informed. Make sure you are being given clear and balanced information, not just what is considered hospital policy. You deserve to understand the full context, including both the risks and the benefits, for anything being suggested. This knowledge helps you stay confident and in control of your birth experience. 

Our My Body My Birth™ cards are designed to support this. They offer research based, easy to understand information on common interventions that may come up during pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Some of these might not be discussed in standard appointments, so knowing about them in advance helps you feel more prepared. If they do arise, you'll be in a stronger position to make a decision that aligns with your needs and values.

Being fully informed and able to give genuine informed consent can lead to a more empowering and positive birth. It can also help reduce the risk of postnatal issues such as birth trauma, postnatal depression or anxiety. Feeling heard, respected and in control matters deeply to your emotional wellbeing, both during and after birth.

Knowledge truly is power when it comes to birth.