June marked my one year anniversary as a member of Toastmasters. Joining Toastmasters represented crossing an item off of my to-do list. I didn’t know what to expect, but the meeting captured my attention. The speakers were fascinating and their topics very unique. What I enjoyed most was the Table Topics segment. Table Topics requires you to gather your thoughts quickly and respond to an impromptu question or topic. It’s definitely a skill that is useful for networking and meetings. 
It can also be applied to health care including prenatal care visits. At a prenatal care visit you have a limited amount of time to see your provider and communicate your questions, concerns, or thoughts about having a healthy birth. Using the skills I have learned from Table Topics I would make the following suggestions to an expecting mom.
Table Topics Tips
- Listen carefully to what your provider says to you as the office visit or exam is taking place.
- Ask your provider to repeat anything you didn’t understand or for clarification. This is where your listening skills come in handy.
- Process what you heard and when you are ready begin to speak.
- Think about what you want to say, pace your words, and pause if you need to.
- Don’t be afraid of the silence when you need to pause. Don’t feel obligated to use what we in Toastmasters call filler words like “uh and um.”
- During Table Topics we have 1-2 minutes to communicate, similar to a prenatal care visit, (though obviously longer) so use your time wisely.
Being a member of Toastmasters allows me to add value to my work in maternal and child health especially as it pertains to presenting information and helping clients to improve their communication skills. Join me on August 5th at 12:00pm for the tele-seminar 9 Tips for Clear and Confident Communication during Your Prenatal Care Visits. Every healthy birth begins with a conversation. #PregnancyTalk