Month: August 2023

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The BRAIN Acronym for Childbirth

The BRAIN Acronym can help you make informed decisions for your childbirth experience and beyond. It is a powerful tool to prepare and plan for any event including your pregnancy, birth and parenting.

What does the acronym stand for?

The word “BRAIN” in this context is an acronym that stands for several key factors:

Benefit: Consider the potential advantages and gains that can be obtained from a particular decision. Assess the positive outcomes and how they align with your goals and objectives.

Risks: Take into account the potential risks and drawbacks associated with the decision. Identify and evaluate any potential negative consequences and assess their impact.

Alternatives: Explore and analyze alternative options. Consider different approaches or solutions that might achieve similar or even better results.

Intuition: What is your gut telling you? How do you feel about each of the options?

Nothing/Necessity: Determine the necessity and urgency of making the decision. Evaluate whether it is crucial to act promptly or if it allows for further consideration and evaluation. What happens if we/I do nothing? Have we/I got time to sleep on it?

By using the brain acronym as a decision-making tool you can ensure that your decisions are well-considered, comprehensive, and aligned with your goals and objectives as well as your individual preferences.

Download my Informed Consent Handout here.

How can I use the BRAIN Acronym for Childbirth?

Here is one example of how you may use the BRAIN tool for you birth planning/decision-making:

Example – Induction of labour

Benefits

  • A method of bringing on the labour when your baby needs to be born soon(er) due to risk to them or you. NOTE: induction of labour often takes more than one day!
  • The baby can be born at a time when specialist attention and facilities are available. For example, paediatrician for ‘at-risk’ babies.
  • Social reasons: being able to “control” the time/date of birth a little more and being able to plan childcare etc around it a little better. NOTE: induction of labour often takes more than one day!

Risks

  • Unless your body is ready to birth, the progress will be slow. It can take several days to start working and you may need a Caesarean Birth if the induction process doesn’t proof efficient
  • Partners are not always “allowed” to stay for the whole duration of the induction process. Often they can only be there during the official or slightly extended visiting hours. So you may be “on your own” for a while.
  • It can be very uncomfortable for quite some time and you may need more pain relief compared to a spontaneous onset of labour.
  • Higher likelihood of an instrumental birth using a vacuum or forceps. As a result of increased use of epidural.
  • Increased risk of above-average blood loss.
  • Overstimulation of the uterus, increasing the risk of causing stress to you and baby
  • Overriding of your body’s natural production of oxytocin (the hormone of love, labour and lactation). This results in decreased release of your natural oxytocin in response to your baby suckling at the breast. Furthermore, this can lead to difficulty establishing lactation in the first few days postpartum.

Alternatives

  • Natural induction methods such as – nipple stimulation, spicy food, eating dates, hypnosis or acupuncture.
  • Caesarean birth
  • Increased monitoring of the baby and wait on spontaneous labour

Intuition

How does the thought of having an induction make you feel? Are you comfortable with this option?

Nothing

What happens if I do nothing and just wait? Depending on the reason(s) why an induction is offered to you the risks can vary. Ask your healthcare provider about your specific risks to you and your baby. Find out how much time you have got to think about it. Is this an emergency? Can we get a second opinion and/or sleep on it? Ask the question “What happens if we wait?”.

When creating your birth plan or making other decisions, remember to ask the questions. And importantly use your BRAIN decision making tool to make informed decisions and choices which are right for you and your childbirth experience!

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Sources and Further Reading
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Floppy Face Floppy Fanny

“Floppy Face Floppy Fanny” a magic technique to make childbirth easier, more enjoyable and reduces tearing. How?

During childbirth, the process of delivering a baby can be both physically and emotionally intense for the expecting mother. It is natural to feel some level of fear, tension, or discomfort during this journey. However, there is an intriguing technique that some believe can help make the birthing experience easier, more enjoyable, and even reduce the likelihood of tearing. This technique is known as “Floppy Face Floppy Fanny.” The phrase was first said by American midwife Ina May Gaskin.

The concept behind Floppy Face Floppy Fanny is based on the interconnectedness of our facial muscles with those in our pelvic floor, vagina, and vulva. According to this technique, when the face is relaxed, especially the muscles around the mouth and jaw, it has a profound impact on the relaxation of the pelvic area as well. By consciously relaxing the face, the woman aims to create a ripple effect, allowing the muscles in her birthing canal to also relax, making it easier for the baby to pass through.

The idea of linking facial relaxation with childbirth may sound unconventional, but proponents of this technique suggest that it can have a significant impact on the overall birthing experience. By practicing deep breathing exercises, visualization, and consciously relaxing the facial muscles, women may find increased comfort, reduced pain, and a smoother delivery process.

It’s important to note that its effectiveness may vary from person to person. Every woman’s/birthing person’s experience with childbirth is unique, and there are many factors involved in the ease and outcome of the process. It is always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional or midwife for personalized guidance and support during pregnancy and childbirth.

So why am I saying Floppy Face, Floppy Fanny rather than relax your mouth and jaw? To make it more memorable for expectant parents. I’ve also been using the “loose lips, loose hips”.

Here are some flashcards for breathing techniques to help you to keep your jaw, lips and mouth relaxed. One of the most memorable but simple technique is “horse lips”.

Online Birth Preparation Course only £35!

Please also check out my online course! No videos, just text and images to learn in your own time. Includes hypnobirthing mp3s, scripts, workbook, handouts, infographics and much more! Lots and lots of information at your fingertips! Includes:

  • hypnobirthing mp3s
  • hypnobirthing scripts
  • written information
  • infographics and other imagery
  • printable handouts
  • printable workbook/journal
Enrol now

Sources and Further Reading

  • Emmer, Helene et al. “Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with overactive bladder and urgency incontinence in men.” Sleep vol. 32,2 (2009): 271-5. doi:10.1093/sleep/32.2.271
  • Fischer MJ, Riedlinger K, Gutenbrunner C, Bernateck M. Influence of the temporomandibular joint on range of motion of the hip joint in patients with complex regional pain syndrome. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 Jun;32(5):364-71. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2009.04.003. PMID: 19539119
  • Dr Lauren Keller: https://drlaurenkeller.com/blog/2022/5/23/5xlrzq50dx7n127nsavetabxr7jseg
  • Mamastefit: https://mamastefit.com/breathing-our-pelvic-floor-and-labor/
  • Talasz H, Kremser C, Talasz HJ, Kofler M, Rudisch A. Breathing, (S)Training and the Pelvic Floor-A Basic Concept. Healthcare (Basel). 2022 Jun 2;10(6):1035. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10061035. PMID: 35742086; PMCID: PMC9222935.
  • Van der Velde, J., & Everaerd, W. (2001). The relationship between involuntary pelvic floor muscle activity, muscle awareness and experienced threat in women with and without vaginismus. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 39(4), 395–408. doi:10.1016/s0005-7967(00)00007-3
  • Van der Velde, J., Laan, E., & Everaerd, W. (2000). Vaginismus, a component of a general defensive reaction. An investigation of pelvic floor muscle activity during exposure to emotion inducing film excerpts in women with and without vaginismus. Submitted
  • WombWisdom: https://www.wombseedwisdom.com/