How BRAIN Helped me Make Informed Decisions in Pregnancy & Birth

Many of us were conditioned as children into believing that we shouldn't trust our intuition - that our desires and feelings were 'too much' and 'silly'.  We were told "don't be so dramatic" and "you're fine, stop crying", "calm down", "get over it"; so it is completely understandable that when it comes to advocating for ourselves - and trusting our instincts - in pregnancy and birth, we might struggle!

Using the framework of BRAIN really helped me to feel comfortable asking tough questions during pregnancy despite the conditioned fear and shame of 'being a bother'.

I could say, "we are using BRAIN to help us make decisions" and then I hoped care providers would understand I was clued up and wanted all the information to make an informed choice.

For me, learning about BRAIN let me give myself permission to ask these questions - even when medical professionals were acting like it was a done deal, and I was just being "that home birth woman".

We do not have to memorise every statistic and know every piece of evidence in order to feel prepared for birth.

As long as we know that we can ask questions, that we do have choices, and that ultimately it is our decision, we can feel empowered. Hopefully, if we use BRAIN during birth, we won't feel like a cascade of interventions happened outside of our choice and control. Even if things do not go to plan, you can know that you still made informed decisions about your care.

What does BRAIN stand for?

Benefits:

• What are the aims and positive outcomes from the procedure or medication
• What are the indications that this procedure is required and how will it address the concern?

Risks

• What could go wrong?
• What might the side effects be?
• How might it impact other events?
• What are my individual risks based on my personal circumstances, rather than a generalised risk?
• What happens if it doesn't work?

Alternatives:

• Are there other options that could be tried first?
• Why is this procedure or medication being offered over other options?

Instinct:

• What does my gut tell me?
• Do I believe this is the right thing to do or even necessary at all?

Nothing:

• What would happen if we did nothing, or waited longer?
• What if we wait and see what happens?
• How urgent is it that something is done right now?

Why BRAIN helps in the birth space

The beauty of BRAIN isn't just that it gives you a list of questions; it shifts the dynamic of the conversation. In medical settings, it is very easy for pregnant women to slip into a passive role where care feels like something that is happening to them, rather than decisions being made with them.

Using a structured framework like BRAIN creates a pause. It gives people a gentle, non-confrontational boundary to step back, catch their breath, and gather their thoughts before agreeing to a procedure, examination, or induction. It transforms consent from a tick-box form into a meaningful, two-way conversation.

For birth workers and student midwives, advocating for BRAIN isn't about being 'anti-intervention' - it is about being pro-informed consent. When someone understands why a suggestion is being made, what their alternatives are, and has had time to check in with their own gut instinct, they retain their sense of agency. Even if the birth takes an unexpected turn, retaining that agency could be huge for preventing birth trauma.

For student midwives, doulas, and birthkeepers, holding space for informed consent is at the heart of your practice. Being aware of the BRAIN acronym gives you a practical, accessible tool to gently encourage women to make informed choices.

You can use BRAIN as a simple reminder in your own clinical practice to slow down, present balanced information, and advocate for individualised care. By introducing families to BRAIN during antenatal conversations or using it as a reference on placement, you help return power and autonomy to the woman giving birth.

Why I’ve created BRAIN resources in so many formats

When I started designing BRAIN materials, I realised that one size definitely does not fit all! Different people process information in completely different ways, especially when navigating the sensory overload of pregnancy and birth preparation.

I wanted to offer a choice of ways to engage with this framework:

• For Visual & Tactile Learners: Some people connect best through creativity. The colouring pages and watercolour posters let pregnant mothers slow down, relax, and absorb the concepts through art during pregnancy, making the acronym feel familiar and comforting long before labour begins.
• For On-the-Go Practicality: During labour or quick hospital visits, no one wants to read a booklet. The wallet-sized cards, bookmarks, and mini cards are designed to be tiny, accessible anchors. They can be tucked into a purse, clipped onto a clipboard, or kept on a bedside table as a quiet, visual prompt when quick choices need to be made.
• For Birth Educators & Doulas: Teaching tools need to be flexible. Having A4 posters, card sets, and printable client handouts gives birth workers versatile resources to suit their specific classes, 1-to-1 doula visits, or client goody bags without breaking the bank.

My BRAIN options

BRAIN Informed-Decisions Colouring Poster

An A4 digital print illustrating BRAIN in a positive, creative line-art style. This works wonderfully as a colouring page during hypnobirthing classes or as a printable handout for clients to reflect on during pregnancy.

BRAIN Informed-Decisions Poster Set

A set of A4 BRAIN digital prints featuring my original watercolour and ink artwork summarizing the BRAIN framework. These make beautiful teaching tools, display posters for your workshop spaces, or visual aids for birth preparation sessions.

BRAIN 8-Card Set

A downloadable set of A6 BRAIN cards featuring my watercolour illustrations detailing each letter of BRAIN, plus two supporting affirmation cards: "I trust my instincts" and "I make informed decisions". Perfect as a birth altar display or client handout set.

BRAIN Mini Cards with Envelopes 

A physical pack of mini cards featuring original watercolour artwork. Ideal for doulas, birthkeepers, and hypnobirthing teachers to gift to clients or use as decorative inspiration on a birth altar.

BRAIN Wallet-Sized Cards 

Designed to print at actual size (credit card size), these small wallet cards are convenient handouts for clients to slip into a purse, phone case, or hospital bag as a quick reference during labour.

BRAIN Bookmark Cards 

A digital download set of watercolour bookmark cards. These give clients a simple, reusable reminder of their choices that they can keep handy in their pregnancy books.

Client Goody Bag Add-On Pack 

A physical pack of BRAIN bookmarks containing 10 double-sided 15cm BRAIN bookmarks printed on 350gsm card, plus 10 "Believe in your purpose" prints on 150gsm paper. I made these hoping they'd be an affordable, ready-to-use addition to your client goody bags.

Understanding the download usage terms

When you buy a download, it comes with a Limited Use Commercial License designed specifically for individual birthworkers, doulas, hypnobirthing teachers, prenatal yoga instructors, antenatal educators, and midwives.

What you CAN do with your license:

• Print the downloads on paper or card at the specified size
• Give the physical printouts as handouts to your clients, or use them as teaching tools and posters for your individual business
• Print at home or use a professional printing service
• Add the images to a PowerPoint presentation to use with clients in person or remotely (as long as the presentation file itself is not shared digitally)
• Share photos or videos of your printed physical materials on social media

What you CANNOT do with your license:

• Print the images on other materials (such as notebooks or mugs) to sell or give away
• Use the images as part of a product you intend to sell
• Share the digital files with anyone by email, messaging, or any other method
• Add the digital files directly to your website or upload the raw image files to social media
• Edit the artwork or remove the Womb to World Art brand name
• Share the digital files with other professionals within your organisation or team (each individual practitioner requires their own license)

Thank you for respecting the time and care that goes into creating these artwork resources.

You can see a selection of my most popular downloads in the antenatal downloads collection, and the full offering is on my womb to world art etsy shop. Order directly from me in the UK though as Etsy add on VAT (but I don't have to).