Childbirth really unfolds exactly how you planned it. Even with the most careful preparation, challenges can arise unexpectedly out of nowhere that need you to make a decision quickly, dig deep, stay strong and remain calm, so you can clearly communicate and think of the best decision forward. During a difficult birth, one of the most important things that you need is effective communication with your doctor, as it can help you to feel informed about all procedures and steps forward, which can lead you to feel calmer, supported and more confident in the care that you’re receiving. Whilst medical teams are trained to act swiftly in emergencies to try and do what they think is best for you, your voice and understanding still matter.
So if you’re expecting a more difficult birth, or even just want to be prepared for anything that may arise in birth, you may be wondering how to ensure that you are in the know and have a say in what happens. Well, this blog aims to support you through this, acting as a guide through what you should know if a difficult does arise and how you should communicate with your doctor if it does, so you can go into your birth feeling empowered.
So, without further ado, here are 5 tips for communicating with your doctor during a difficult birth.
Discuss preferences and concerns before labour begins
One of the most important steps in communicating during a difficult birth actually happens before labour starts. Prenatal appointments are a great opportunity to start clear and healthy communication with your doctor, allowing you to discuss your birth preferences and executions. Here, a doctor may inform you if they think that you may have a difficult birth for a variety of reasons, such as existing conditions or age.
You should consider creating a birth plan that outlines your wishes regarding pain management, interventions, the people who will be there to support you and any mobility concerns. Although there is a chance that your birth plan may change on the day due to complex situations, discussing them in advance ensures that you and your doctor are on the same page and understand what matters to you the most.
You can ask questions such as:
- What interventions are most common in my situation?
- Under what circumstances would you recommend a C-section?
- How do you typically handle labour complications?
Engaging in this type of conversation early on helps to establish trust and make it easier to negotiate any issues that may develop later on. This means that when a difficult birth does arise, there’s a foundation of communication in place.
Use clear, direct language about how you feel
During challenging labour, it can be difficult to articulate what you’re experiencing. Pain, fatigue, anxiety and urgency can make communication much harder, and this can start to cause confusion and stress. This is where being as clear and direct as possible comes in, as it helps your medical team clearly understand how you’re feeling or what you need so they can respond appropriately.
If something feels wrong, say so, or if your pain feels unmanageable, you must speak up clearly. Instead of saying ‘I don’t know if this is normal’, try saying ‘this pain feels more intense than before’, I feel pressure in a way that concerns me’ or ‘I’m feeling overwhelmed and need assurance’.
Doctors rely on patients to assess progress and make decisions, therefore your decisions of symtoms can influence how quickly they act and what intervention they recommend.
Ask questions, even in urgent moments
In high-pressure situations, doctors may move quickly and use some medical terminology that feels overwhelming. While emergencies sometimes require immediate action, you should still have the right to know and understand what is happening to you, to reduce stress. Here you should allow yourself to ask questions such as ‘what is happening’, ‘what are the risks and benefits’ or what happens if we wait a few minutes’.
Even short explanations can dramatically reduce anxiety through understanding the reason behind the recommendation and help you feel more involved in your care. In urgent cases, you may not get a chance to have lengthy explanations beforehand, but you can have the chance to gain clarification after the fact. Do not hesitate to ask for a complete debrief once the situation stabilises. If you feel that something has been done for no reason, that has had lasting effects or has caused you harm, you may want to contact a medical malpractice solicitor such as Bond Turner for further information and advice
Lean on your support person as a communication bridge
During a difficult birth, you may not always feel capable of advocating for yourself. This is when you need someone else by yourself who also knows your birth plan to advocate and support you, when you’re in pain and exhausted and can not respond as clearly as usual.
Before labour, ensure to discuss your wishes with your support person so they understand your priorities and what you want from the birth, so they can ask clarifying questions on your behalf, provide information that you missed and remind medical staff of your preferences when it comes to the birth.
For example, if you’re concentrating on contractions, your support person might say, ‘Can you explain what the next step is and how urgent it is?’ or ‘She would like to understand the alternatives if possible’
Stay open to flexibility while maintaining informed consent
Difficult births often require changes to the original plan, as what can begin as straightforward labour may evolve into assisted delivery or a C-section.
Clear communication involves balancing flexibility with informed consent, with the mindset that safety is a priority, while understanding that agreements are essential. If your doctor does recommend a change, you can ask if the change is necessary, if its urgant or its its recommended.
These questions encourage collaborative decisions rather than passive acceptance. At the same time, it recognises that medical professionals are trained professionals who are trained to assess risks rapidly. Tuist built during prenatal care can make these moments easier to navigate.