By Patty Herrera, Family Support Advocate
In this edition of Health Literacy Voices, family support advocate Patty Herrera shares what she hears from new parents about labor and birth, and how clearer, more supportive communication could change their experience.
What Risks Do Birthing People Face When Information About Their Health, Labor, Complications or Options Is Not Communicated Clearly?
Labor can be very confusing for parents. Doctors need to communicate when and why they do procedures like the epidural. Most women are afraid even to get it because they feel like they’re not going to be able to feel the birth and not be present at the moment of it. This must be communicated, as women will often wait until the last minute when they need something to alleviate the pain during childbirth. And if it is left too late, then the epidural cannot be administered at all.
I have spoken to mothers whose experience was so bad that they don’t want to have another child because they don’t want to go through the same situation again. They were in so much pain that they wanted to die, their heart stopped, or they even felt the nurse wanted to punish them. And when I have mentioned that this is because there is only a specific window of time when the epidural can be administered, the response is that they wish they had been told that. This may be because young mothers are relying on information they receive from other people and their parents, which isn’t always accurate.
They wish they had been told that.
Young parents might not even think about learning more about labor, when to see the doctor, or how often their contractions should be before they go to the hospital. Doctors need to provide both education and medical advice. They shouldn’t assume that the birthing person is entirely up to speed and should start by asking questions to assess where they are. For example, what does this patient know about epidurals, and do they know the window when they can have one during labor? A reminder of this information in the last trimester is invaluable—and so is not assuming that they already know.
In Maternal Care, What Makes Communication Feel Supportive, Respectful and Trustworthy?
Mothers feel supported when you talk to them about the changes and how these affect their hormones. But they don’t always realize that their body is still adjusting after they have given birth. Everything is fun when they’re in the hospital, and everybody wants to see the baby, but once you go home, there’s no support for managing your baby’s needs, your own emotional situation and your life environment. Added to which, everything is justifiably magnified for new mothers when there is no one to ask for advice. Their baby throwing up can be scary when you are not used to it, and wrapping their baby in too many blankets to try to make them comfortable can leave the baby too hot. It is helpful to connect new mothers with agencies that provide support, or with a nurse they can contact directly, who can help them navigate these early weeks.
What Advice Would You Give Professionals About Sharing Information in Clearer, More Culturally Aligned or More Trauma-Informed Ways?
Don’t assume that the mother knows everything about childbirth, even if it’s their second child.
Tell them what to expect and what challenges they might face, and provide practical information, such as how to register at the hospital.
Don’t make assumptions about what the parent may or may not know based on their cultural background.
What Gives You Hope That Communication in Maternal Health Can Improve?
What gives me hope is that there are more advocates, more people advocating for themselves and more people accessing resources where they feel heard. Some people go to support centers or community centers, or take a friend or family member with them to doctor’s appointments, to make sure they understand or get the information correctly. It gives me hope that doctors are learning to set aside the medical jargon, explain things more simply and take care of families.
What also gives me hope is that more people are learning to advocate for themselves, asking questions and seeking out support groups, resource centers or community centers. Family members have become more willing to accompany pregnant mothers to doctors’ appointments, and more doctors are becoming less process-driven and explaining things in simple terms.
About the Author
Patty Herrera is a family support advocate. She holds certifications in family development and family support from Cornell University, family support and case management from California State University, Fullerton, and strengths model case management from Strengths Model Inc.
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