Your doctor just recommended an induction. Your midwife wants to break your water. You weren't expecting it, you have questions — but they're already moving on. 😳

Sound familiar? That's not informed consent. And according to ACOG (American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists), it's not okay.

In this episode, we're breaking down exactly what informed consent is (and what it isn't), what your provider is legally and ethically required to discuss with you, and the exact questions you can use to slow things down and get the information you actually need.

In this episode:

🔹 Why signing a consent form does NOT mean you've given informed consent

🔹 The 5 things ACOG requires your provider to cover before any procedure or intervention

🔹 Real hospital scenarios — what rushed, coercive consent looks like vs. what it's supposed to look like

🔹 Why over 65% of nurses and doulas report witnessing lack of informed consent regularly (yes, really)

🔹 The 5 questions to ask at your next appointment — plus what to say when your provider seems annoyed

🔹 What to do in an emergency vs. when you actually have more time than you think

Whether you're planning a natural birth or an epidural, whether you're low-risk or high-risk — informed consent applies to every pregnant person, at every appointment. This episode gives you the foundation you need to advocate for yourself before you ever set foot in a labor and delivery unit.

References

ACOG Committee Opinion No. 819: Informed Consent and Shared Decision Making in Obstetrics and Gynecology

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' Committee on Ethics. (2021). Informed Consent and Shared Decision Making in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 137(2), e31-e41.
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000004247

AWHONN Respectful Maternity Care Framework and Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline

• Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. (2022). Respectful Maternity Care Framework and Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 51(2).
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2022.01.001

CMQCC Toolkit to Support Vaginal Birth and Reduce Primary Cesareans

• Smith H, Peterson N, Lagrew D, Main E. 2016. Toolkit to Support Vaginal Birth and Reduce Primary Cesareans: A Quality Improvement Toolkit. Stanford, CA: California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative.
• Available at: www.cmqcc.org

⏱️ Timestamps

• 00:00 — Feeling steamrolled: the 39-week induction scenario
• 01:06 — Why informed consent matters (and improves outcomes)
• 02:00 — ACOG's definition: more than a signature
• 02:36 — You have capacity: pregnancy doesn't remove your autonomy
• 03:16 — The 5 required elements
• 04:43 — Tailoring the conversation: stats vs. big picture
• 06:43 — Your informed consent checklist
• 07:43 — Myth-busting: forms, "doctor knows best," and your right to refuse
• 09:30 — Good vs. bad consent: real hospital scenarios
• 14:02 — Why it keeps happening
• 15:10 — The data: how common consent violations are
• 16:28 — Your script: 5 questions + asking for time
• 18:31 — Practical prep for appointments and labor
• 19:10 — What-if scenarios: a

📲 Come find me on Instagram @informedbirthnurse

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always work with your healthcare provider to make decisions that are right for you.