What informed consent really looks like in maternity care.
Informed consent is a process, not a moment.
Image: pregnant bump
In maternity care, informed consent is often treated as a moment.
A form, a signature. A brief explanation.
But in reality, informed consent involves understanding:
what’s being recommended
why it’s being suggested
why alternatives exist
what it might mean to wait, decline, or choose differently
NHS midwife appointment
Why maternity consent can feel rushed or unclear
Many people experience maternity consent in a much narrower way.
Information may be given quickly. Options may be listed, but not explored. Time may be limited - especially when care feels busy or risk-focussed.
In these situations, consent can feel more like compliance, even when no one intends it to.
This isn’t about individual blame. It reflects a system that often prioritises efficiency, standardization, and risk management.
pregnant woman UK
Participating in decisions about your maternity care
Recommendations carry weight. When something is presented as “what we usually do” or “what’s advised”, it can feel difficult to question - even when questions are reasonable.
Many people later reflect on decisions they agreed to and wonder whether they truly understood their choices at the time.
That reflection isn’t failure. IT’s often a sign the informed consent process wasn’t fully supported.
Informed consent isn’t about resisting care. It’s abput participating in it.
(Informed consent underpins much of my work, because it shapes how people experience maternity care long after decisions are made.)