Kind, Considerate… and Missing Informed Consent.

This is a true story - names have been changed to protect the parents.

A first-time mother Sarah, is 36 weeks pregnant when she goes to her routine appointment. Her LMC tells her she needs an ultrasound. She wasn’t expecting it, but hey—bonus baby viewing!

During the scan, the Radiographer invites an OB into the room to look at something on the monitor. He raises an eyebrow. “Wow, this baby is getting big! We might need to induce you at 39 weeks to avoid complications.”

Sarah’s surprised. She’s heard mixed things about induction but figures the OB knows best. After all, that’s why they’re the expert, right?

At 37 and 38 weeks, the same conversation happens.

By 39 weeks, the Ob strolls in with a cheerful, “Want to meet your baby today?” Sarah’s told an induction is the safest option since her baby is big and her pelvis is “on the smaller side.”

Trusting the process, she and her partner Harry, head home to pack their bags, not realising that the benefits and risks of induction haven’t been fully explained.

Once admitted, they are told the plan: cervical ripening with prostaglandins overnight, then pitocin the next morning. Sarah and Harry are buzzing with excitement but tired, it’s been a long emotional day —except sleep is impossible with midwives popping in regularly.

Morning comes. Sarah’s checked—only 2-3 cm so the midwife on duty starts Pitocin. At first, nothing happens. Then, after a few dose increases, the contractions kick in… HARD. Sarah is hooked up to multiple monitors and IVs, which she wasn’t expecting. She’d imagined moving around freely, but with continuous monitoring, that’s not really an option now.

The contractions soon become relentless. The midwife lowers the pitocin. Then, they slow too much. The dose is increased again. This cycle continues until they find a “good” rhythm.

Hours pass and Sarah is working harder than she’s ever worked in her life. A cervical check… no real progress. Devastated but determined, she keeps going because, well, what choice does she have?

24 hours in. Sarah’s exhausted. She hasn’t eaten because, surprise! No one mentioned eating isn’t recommended during induction. A shift change brings new staff. 12 more hours pass. Her own LMC pops in to check on them both and suggest she does a vaginal examination and she’s finally 5 cm! She leaves, telling them she’ll pop back later in the day.

The team isn’t happy with how their baby is handling labour. They suggest breaking Sarah’s waters to place a monitor on the baby’s head. Another wire. Another intervention. Her LMC has stepped back now—her Ob has already told them this likely won’t be a vaginal birth.

Eventually, Sarah opts for an epidural. Relief… but then, her blood pressure drops, and so does the baby’s heart rate. Cue oxygen mask and a flurry of activity. It stabilises, but she and Harry are shaken.

The new Ob on duty is kind. He gently explains that baby might be stuck because of it’s size and isn’t tolerating labour well. “Sometimes, we have to do what’s safest,” he says.

20 minutes later, a 7 lb 6 oz baby is born via c-section. Sarah looks at her baby, thinking, he doesn’t seem that big? Harry agrees, but their comments and concerns are brushed off and they are told to enjoy the cuddles with their son.

Sarah and Harry take their beautiful baby home but, know something didn’t feel quite right.

They are both frustrated with themselves for not asking more questions, for trusting blindly. And they are not alone—so many parents go home thinking that their provider saved them and their baby. That their body is broken. Never learning that the unnecessary interventions Sarah had, actually stacked the odds against them.

The staff was kind and compassionate, never dismissive or rude. But they also didn’t provide the full picture for Sarah and Harry!

Why Does This Matter?

When people feel like decisions were made for them rather than with them, it can lead to feelings of disempowerment, disappointment, and even trauma. Birth experiences that leave parents feeling unheard or out of control can increase the risk of postnatal depression and, in some cases, even post-traumatic stress disorder.

Of course, birth is unpredictable—there’s only so much we can plan for.

But the more informed you are, the more confident you’ll feel when new decisions need to be made. This is why it’s so important to do your homework before labour begins. Learn about the risks and benefits of interventions. Ask questions. Think about your preferences and share them with your LMC, partner, and support team. You can also request that your wishes be documented in your health records so they are known and accessible when the time comes.

Shockingly, a study at Boston University called Listening to Mothers found that nearly 1 in 4 women didn’t fully understand their legal right to clear explanations of any procedure during childbirth—or that they had the right to accept or refuse any intervention.

Informed consent isn’t about saying “no” to interventions—it’s about making sure you’re part of every decision. Interventions like induction and c-sections absolutely have their place and can be life-saving when necessary.

You deserve to know all the facts before choices are made, not after.