Importance of Informed Consent and Birth Plans in Midwifery Practice: A Reflective Essay

This reflective essay discusses the importance of informed consent and birth plans in midwifery practice, with a focus on a case scenario involving induction of labour. The essay highlights the significance of evidence-based patient education and patient-centered care in ensuring optimal outcomes for women.

Running head: NURSING REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Nursing reflective essay
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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NURSING REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Brief description of the scenario:
The patient selected in the case scenario is Sandra who had been a primigravida woman
attending a 40-week appointment with the midwife assigned to her at the antenatal clinic. In the
clinic, we had performed her routine antenatal checks, after which, we had shifted her to the
labour ward to discuss the induction of labour (IOL) with her. It was discovered that the risk of
stillbirth was exceptionally high for the patient as she was 40 years old. However, the patient
had not been very keen on the topic of induction of labour and had wanted her delivery process
to be as natural as possible. However, in the discussion that had been led by the out of guidelines
midwife, the head midwife explained to Sandra and her husband with evidence the need for out-
patient IOL for her and her risks given her condition and her age. Post the discussion of the
benefits of the IOL and her possible risks, Sandra and her husband agreed to an out-patient IOL
to be carried out for her as her whole pregnancy term had been low risk and no risks had been
identified for her from the maternal age. Post this stage the patient went on to have a discussion
regarding her birth plan where she discussed her preferences and aversions.
Feelings and thoughts:
I would like to mention in this context that being a midwifery student, taking a part in the
IOL discussion had been an excellent opportunity for me. The patient in the case study named
Sandra had been a primigravida woman, who had been going through her first pregnancy. Hence,
she had very limited knowledge regarding the aspects of labour and giving birth which was
apparent from the discussion experience that we have had with her. Although, according to my
personal thoughts and feelings, as the discussion progressed, the evidence-based knowledge and
patient education that was given by the head midwife was very effective which helped Sandra
and her husband understand the impact of the risk of stillbirth and opt for the IOL instead.

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Evaluation:
According to the standards of practice for the midwives, informed consent is one of the
greatest requirements of midwifery practice which has eased the process of evidence-based
practice and patient centered care in the care scenario effectively (Nice.org.uk 2018). Elaborating
more, according to the NICE guidelines as well, the midwives are expected to practice informed
consent under all circumstances to inform the women of the choices that are available to her
regarding her delivery and postnatal care. This is the step where the midwifery care team will
explain to the patient about all the risks that are associated with the pregnancy and the benefits
that each of the delivery choices presented to the patient so that the patient can make a
completely informed decision about her delivery and postnatal care (Rcm.org.uk 2018). In this
case, the discussion experience that I have had with Sandra and the head midwife, the patient
was informed of her choice to go for IOL in order to avoid the risk of stillbirth taking an
evidence-based patient education approach (Hadar et al. 2012). Hence, it can be mentioned that
the course of action followed in the event had been in accordance with the recent guidelines of
NICE and RCM.
However, it has to be mentioned in this context that the patient, in this case, has also had
a birth plan discussion with the team which is one of the most vital recommendations of
maternity care guidelines of both NICE and RCOG. Elaborating more, it also needs to be
mentioned that birth plans are considered to be a potent tool to articulate the concerns that the
women have before delivery and provide a significant opportunity for the pregnant women to
have the opportunity to express their preferences with the entire process (Aragon et al. 2013). In
this case, Sandra expressed that she did not want to have an epidural or the hormone syntocinon
to augment her labour unless it was absolutely necessary for her or the baby’s safety. She also

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NURSING REFLECTIVE ESSAY
did not want to have active management of her 3rd stage of labour either which was accurately
documented in her birth plan with respect to her outpatient IOL.
Analysis:
According to the statistical data of 2016, the rate of stillbirth in the UK is 4.4 per 1000
total births (Rcm.org.uk 2018). Researchers are of the opinion that obesity and age are very
important factors associated with stillbirth. For instance, the data suggest that women with BMI
that is more than 30, have a higher risk of stillbirth. Along with that, as per the guidelines of the
RCOG, the women that are over the age of 40 are at considerably higher risk of experiencing
stillbirth as well. It has to be mentioned that even though for first pregnancies with low-risk
maternal term, the risk of stillbirth is fractionally lesser, most of the medical practitioners
recommend taking precautionary measures beforehand to avoid the chances of the patient going
through a stillbirth. The induction of labour is one of the most common procedures opted for late
labours in women, especially in their late thirties and early forties (Zizzo et al. 2017). According
to NICE, induction of labour has a significantly better impact on the health of the new mothers
and the child when compared to instrumental births or emergency cesarean sections. As Sandra
was 40 years old and she had not been spontaneously laboring even at 40 weeks gestational
period, the risk of stillbirth and other such complication was high. Hence, the discussion and
birth planning with IOL was extremely important for Sandra. However, it is very common for
primigravida women to be skeptical of anything other than the normal delivery due to their
limited knowledge and understanding of the concepts. According to Walker et al. (2017),
extensive patient education and consultation with the aid of valid, relevant and authentic
evidence has a significant impact on the understanding and response of such patients. Along with
that, making an informed choice was also excellently aided by the use of literature evidence by

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the head midwife leading the discussion which helped Sandra understand the need for IOL and
consent to it eventually (Middleton, Shepherd and Crowther 2018). The entire process of
informed consenting and birth plan also encouraged her to express her disregard towards the use
of an epidural or the hormone syntocinon and helped in outlining a patient centred plan for her as
well.
Conclusion:
On a concluding note, it has to be mentioned that this had been an excellent opportunity
for me to understand the importance of informed consent and birth plans in outlining delivery
plan and postnatal care plans for women along with ensuring optimal patient-centeredness of the
same. In this case, we had been successful in successfully explaining the patient the need for IOL
and the risk of stillbirth. I hope that this experience will help me in my professional growth and
wi0ll help me in providing similarly effective and safe care as per the guidelines of my scope of
practice.

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NURSING REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Reference:
Afshar, Y., Mei, J.Y., Gregory, K.D., Kilpatrick, S.J. and Esakoff, T.F., 2018. Birth plans—
Impact on mode of delivery, obstetrical interventions, and birth experience satisfaction: A
prospective cohort study. Birth, 45(1), pp.43-49.
Aragon, M., Chhoa, E., Dayan, R., Kluftinger, A., Lohn, Z. and Buhler, K., 2013. Perspectives of
expectant women and health care providers on birth plans. Journal of Obstetrics and
Gynaecology Canada, 35(11), pp.979-985.
Hadar, E., Raban, O., Gal, B., Yogev, Y. and Melamed, N., 2012. Obstetrical outcome in women
with self-prepared birth plan. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 25(10),
pp.2055-2057.
Middleton, P., Shepherd, E. and Crowther, C.A., 2018. Induction of labour for improving birth
outcomes for women at or beyond term. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 5,
pp.CD004945-CD004945.
Nice.org.uk. 2018. Antenatal care for uncomplicated pregnancies | Guidance and guidelines |
NICE. [online] Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg62 [Accessed 11 Jul. 2018].
Rcm.org.uk. 2018. Informed consent: ethical issues for midwife research | RCM. [online]
Available at: https://www.rcm.org.uk/learning-and-career/learning-and-research/ebm-articles/
informed-consent-ethical-issues-for-midwife [Accessed 11 Jul. 2018].
Walker, K.F., Dritsaki, M., Bugg, G., Macpherson, M., McCormick, C., Grace, N., Wildsmith,
C., Bradshaw, L., Smith, G.C.S. and Thornton, J.G., 2017. Labour induction near term for

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women aged 35 or over: an economic evaluation. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics
& Gynaecology, 124(6), pp.929-934.
Zizzo, A.R., Kirkegaard, I., Pinborg, A. and Ulbjerg, N., 2017. Decline in stillbirths and perinatal
mortality after implementation of a more aggressive induction policy in post‐date pregnancies: a
nationwide register study. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 96(7), pp.862-867.