07/28/2025
High risk?
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The term “high risk” gets thrown around a lot in the birth world! But did you know there’s no actual definition of it? It’s become an unhelpful catch phrase, soaking women in fear (and often complete lies) to persuade a particular course of action. High risk = whatever that “expert” is uncomfortable with.
High is subjective. Risk is subjective. Higher than what? Risk of what?
Sister, YOU are the one who determines what risks you will take. There is no life without risk. There is no birth without risk. The more we intervene to mitigate *some* risks, the more we introduce other ones.
⚠️High risk...how much?
•How often does that feared thing occur?
•What exactly do you mean by “high”? All? Some? One percent? Less than 1%? Is that actually “high”?
•How often does that thing NOT occur?
⚠️High risk...of what?
•What *exactly* is the risk we are worried about and why?
⚠️High risk...with what type of care?
•Do other providers address this completely differently?
•Would another OB or midwife give completely different advice?
•Would this have been treated differently just a few years ago or in a few years time when protocols and recommendations change yet again?
⚠️Who’s the one who should ultimately be weighing and deciding what risks she is comfortable with in her own situation for herself and her baby?
We need to consider that in way too many cases the high risk label and the recommendations because of it actually can *create more* risk for many women than the actual thing that is of potential concern 😳
If this term starts getting thrown around, don’t be afraid to question it, challenge it, dig into it, or even walk right away from it.
👉🏼👉🏼What’s more high risk than anything is being afraid to take ownership of your health and not questioning the same system that has failed women and babies over and over again.👈🏼👈🏼
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