You may be faced with difficult decisions during birth. Labor may not be progressing as quickly as your doctor would like. Or what do you do if pain medicine is offered that wasn’t part of your birth plan? What if your doctor recommends a cesarean? Making important decisions is tough, and having the right tool to help you do it is important. Cue the B.R.A.I.N. method. This five-part decision-making tool will help you narrow down the information you need during labor to make the best well-informed decision for you and your baby.

This lesson will cover the various medical pain relief options—from taking the edge off to removing most of the pain, and the various medical interventions and procedures you might encounter during labor.

This lesson will discuss several things you should consider when writing your birth plan, such as how you wish to manage pain, delayed cord clamping, skin-to-skin contact after birth, and so much more.

This final session will instruct you on the postpartum period (after birth). You’ll learn what to expect in the hospital or birthing center in the hours and days following birth, and what you can expect in the first few weeks at home.