So, you can't eat. Of course the hospital isn't going to allow you and your baby to simply dehydrate! They came up with an idea to 'solve' the no eating issue, Intravenous fluid aka IV. Who doesn't need a routine IV? Any women who is not ill. I would venture to say that would be most of us yet women are put into a box...they are pregnant so they must need an IV. But why? Oh my, this is a BIG subject and I hope to cover as much as I can.
First let's start with what exactly is a routine IV. It's called routine because at many hospitals if you come in for labor, regardless or anything, one of the first things they will do is stick you with an IV. What are they giving you through the IV? Generally, saline but they may pump in some glucose. Nothing substantial enough to energize you for the difficult job ahead of you. However, this should keep you hydrated or contribute to water intoxication due to over hydration. Glucose can be dangerous because it can cause hyperglycemia in the infant.
Where does the routine IV go? In your vein, could be your hand, wrist, arm...it depends on what your veins look like. Once the IV is inserted your mobility has decreased. Any movement requires wires to be moved or if you wish to walk around, you have to take the pole with you and push as you walk. If you've been in labor you know, you don't want to have to think about anything else other than the work you are doing. It is a cumbersome task to now think not only about your contractions but also how to maneuver with an IV pole.
Other than to hydrate you, which could be easily taken care of by drinking water during your labor what other benefits does the IV have? You will be told, that in case of an emergency you are already hooked up. That worries me on one level because if a hospital can not accommodate my need in an emergency with a quick injection of an IV, then I don't want them working on me at all!! Also, the true risk of an emergency in a low risk pregnancy is very rare. Somewhere around 2-4%. Not to mention, it is rarer still that an emergency would suddenly appear out of nowhere. If you are being well taken care of during your labor, any emergency would be spotted early on and watched carefully. Now, let's say you are worried and would feel better with an IV in place, just in case you are one of those rare moments. Ask for a heparin lock. It's basically the IV needle injected but not connected to anything. So, there is easy access just in case but without the pole, wires or being pumped with any fluids.
Ok, so you've been given a routine IV...what's the big deal really? Doesn't the hospital have our best interest in mind? Hmmmmm, let's talk about what happens now. You've been given your IV and you'll be told, the contractions you've been working through so beautifully will probably slow down. What do you do when your contractions slow down? Eat, move around, try different positions, shower, etc. Can't do all of those, at least not easily. So now you're contractions have slowed or stopped and the hospital doesn't like that. Since you're already hooked up, let's try some pitocin to speed up those contractions. (or as the nurses so loving say 'let's pit her.') Luckily I've never had pitocin so I can't speak from personal experience but what I hear and read, the contractions with pitocin are stronger and longer than natural contractions and you now have pitocin contractions along with your natural contractions along side them. INTENSE! With that intensity, you can't handle it and decide that an epidural is needed. Well why not?! You're already hooked up to the IV why not add more wires and medicine? Now it's time to push! Yay, the moment we've all been waiting for!! However, you are having difficulty pushing because you can't feel anything, Or the baby is having a difficult time due to the constant contracting or the epidural drug affecting them and now there is worry or concern that the baby is in distress. Options? Episiotomy, forceps, vacuum, C-section. All because you weren't allowed to eat or drink during your labor.
You may be thinking, come on...that's a pretty unrealistic picture you're painting. Think about it. Look at women around you or perhaps your own birth experience. Did it really go the way you wanted it or was it more the way your OB/GYN and hospital wanted it to go? What was the need for the routine IV again?
Study after study has shown that eating and drinking during a normal labor are safe and there is no evidence that restricting food and fluids in normal labor is beneficial.
As always, please research and educate yourself before agreeing to anything! Don't wait until it's too late...choose a doctor or midwife that is truly open to working for and with you.
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