
02/09/2025
๐ฃ โIโm just going toโฆโ is NOT informed consent.โโโโโโโโ
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Too often in labor and birth, parents hear phrases like:โโโโโโโโ
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๐ โIโm just going to check your cervix.โโโโโโโโโ
๐ โIโm just going to break your water.โโโโโโโโโ
๐ โIโm just going to give you something to help things along.โโโโโโโโโ
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But hereโs the thing: thereโs no such thing as โjustโ when it comes to your body.โโโโโโโโ
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๐ These are all medical procedures.โโโโโโโโ
๐ง They all come with benefits, risks, and alternatives.โโโโโโโโ
๐ค And they all require your informed consentโnot a casual heads-up as itโs already happening.โโโโโโโโ
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Informed consent means you:โโโโโโโโ
โ Understand whatโs being offeredโโโโโโโโ
โ Know your optionsโโโโโโโโ
โ Have time to ask questionsโโโโโโโโ
โ Give voluntary agreementโwithout pressure or coercionโโโโโโโโ
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You deserve to be an active participant in your care, not a passive bystander. Birth is not a checklist of things that are done to youโitโs a process you are part of.โโโโโโโโ
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๐ฌ Letโs change the language from โIโm just going toโฆโ to:โโโโโโโโ
โก โWould you like to talk about this option?โโโโโโโโโ
โก โHereโs what I recommend and whyโwhat are your thoughts?โโโโโโโโโ
โก โDo you feel comfortable moving forward?โโโโโโโโโ
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โจ Informed consent isnโt a formality. Itโs your right.โโโโโโโโ
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