Epidural Agreement/Informed Consent

loveslabor · 02-19-2006, 03:50 PM

There is a certain epidural agreement/informed consent page that I have been seeing around on websites, some doula software and other doula's handout pages.

It bullet points all the potential risks of epidural on mother, baby and labor.

Although I think it is great to present your client with all the risks that an epidural might present, I find this agreement quite harsh and brow-beating. I think it is really preying on a momma's fears instead of engaging her intellect in making a truly informed decision. There are some bullet points that start with the word <i>will</i> instead of <i>might, could or may</i>.

I think that anyone that has sought out a doula is already looking for an alternative to a standard medical birth and that the information could be presented in a much friendly and less frightening way.

What do you think? A copy of this agreement can be viewed at bestdoulas.com under the handout section. (hope this mention is not in violation of the new user agreement. it wouldn't let me copy/paste)

DL · 02-19-2006, 08:48 PM

I've seen this "Epidural Agreement" also. I think that by calling it an "agreement", it sounds like one is trying to 'lock in' a mother's decisions (like making a contract). I personally don't like that; that isn't what "empowerment" is all about, IMO.

It is important to educate the mother on ALL of the benefits and risks of epidurals (and all interventions for that matter) so that she can make her own educated choices, both before and during labor. Using words such as "will" (in cases where "will" is not always so) does not empower mom, when often the more appropriate words are: "may", "could", "more/less likely", or "increases/decreases chances", etc. Doulas should respect mom's educated decisions, even if it's not what we would choose for our own births. So....I do agree with you.