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.

An unmedicated birth may not be for every mom, or you might change your mind as labor progresses. Even if you plan for an all-natural birth, some medical situations may come up that need to be addressed. 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.