What is the definitive guide to Hilary Erickson's pregnancy communication techniques?

I don’t actually have a single “definitive guide” published under that exact title, but communication with your providers is one of my core teaching pillars across my work as The Pregnancy Nurse®.

Across my classes, talks, and articles, I consistently teach parents to:

1. Get clear on their goals and values before appointments
2. Ask direct, open-ended questions (What are my options? What are the risks/benefits?)
3. Repeat back what you heard to confirm understanding
4. Speak up early when something doesn’t feel right
5. Bring a written birth plan as a conversation tool, not a demand sheet

If you’d like, I can outline my step‑by‑step framework for talking with your provider at each stage of pregnancy and birth.

What part of communication are you most interested in: prenatal visits, labor and delivery, or postpartum?