Your Choices in Birth Resources
Birth Your Way
If you have preferences (most pregnant people do) about how you are treated or what happens during labor and delivery, it is best to be informed about the birth choices available to you. If you don’t know about what choices in childbirth are available to you, the truth is that you really don’t have any options. Let's make sure you know what your options are!
DISCLAIMER: All information on this website is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, and does not establish any kind of patient client relationship by your own use of this website. We strive to provide accurate general information, the information presented here is not a substitute or any kind of professional advice, and you should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a professional in the area of your particular needs and circumstances prior to making any medical decisions.
Cervical Checks
Cervical checks can be useful- but they are not a requirement- they are not going to tell you when you will go into labor, or how fast your labor will be. You can say NO- which can lead to more trust within yourself, and less emotional pressure. Just because we can measure it doesn't mean we should. Remember to ask yourself what information is this giving you and are you making a decision based on the results? Is it out of curiosity or necessary?
Reasons to skip Cervical checks
-You dont want to for personal reason, like a history of past abuse or them being uncomfortable for you
-Cervical status prior to labor is NOT an indication of when labor will start or how long it will be
-Increased risk of infection
-Increased risk of accidental membrane sweeps and/ or premature rupture of membranes
-Increased risk of preterm labor
-Causes unnecessary stress and/ or disappointment based solely on where your body is NOW
IV FLUIDS
IV fluids are administered during labor to prevent dehydration or a drop in blood pressure before an epidural. Some hospitals routinely administer IV lines during labor while others wait to see if the need arises. There is a risk to every intervention, even simple IV fluids.
What Are the Drawbacks and Risks of IV Use During Labor
-Most basic is that movement is restricted, which can affect your ability to cope with pain, increase the length of labor, and increase the use of Pitocin to strengthen contractions and speed up labor
-May over hydrate the person in labor, which can cause swelling in hands and feet; difficulties breastfeeding due to swollen breasts; and an artificial drop in newborn weight in the days after birth (due to shedding of IV fluids after birth rather than weight), which can also be harmful to breastfeeding
-Using IV in place of eating and drinking in labor depletes a laboring person's energy when it's needed most. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends offering women fluids by mouth and eliminating routine IV use during labor, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) recommends that low-risk laboring women be allowed to drink clear liquids (such as water, juice, carbonated drinks, clear tea, and black coffee).
2 WAYS TO SAY NO IN THE HOSPITAL
First off, you can ALWAYS say “NO”. Saying no to your provider or nurse can be hard! They work for you, and any care you receive needs to feel comfortable to you, don't forget that. You have the right to say NO and hold autonomy over your body and baby. Ask for research and evidence behind what they’re suggesting! Information and informed decision making is key. Your right to bodily autonomy is not up for debate. It’s not an opinion, it’s the law.
Ways to say No
-Simply say “ No thanks”
-”Right now I'm choosing.. XYZ”
-We would like more time to discuss our options
Eating & drinking during labor
Being unable to take in nutrients during such a physically trying time has caused distress among people giving birth. The physical demands and complication risks of labor make it one of the most taxing experiences the human body can endure.
Delivering a baby takes a lot of energy, similar to a person running a marathon. On average, labor for a person's first child lasts around 12 to 24 hours. For later births, it usually lasts between 8 and 10 hours. Labor's strenuous nature means it requires a lot of energy, and your energy can be boosted by taking in nutrients during delivery. Some studies have even shown that eating and drinking can benefit the labor experience. One study found that some people with low-risk pregnancies whose eating and drinking were less restricted experienced shorter labor times. They also didn’t have any resulting labor complications, such as aspiration or vomiting.
The uterus is mostly made of muscle tissue. Muscles use fuel as they work and require enough nutrition to meet their energy needs. With all this said, we believe that food choices should ultimately be left up to the birthing person’s preferences and desires.
Food & Drink Choices for labor:
Oral carbohydrate-based fluids
Date fruit or date syrup
Low fat yogurt
Bread, biscuits
Vegetables
Fruits
Soup
Fruit juices
Cereal and milk
Toast with butter/jam
Low fat cheese
Chocolate
Boiled eggs
Roasted okra
Tortillas with a honey or tahini spread
Tostones
Fried plantain (maduros) bites in light oil
Labor positions, it doesn't have to be on your back
Utilizing various positions throughout the stages of labor can be an amazing form of pain management and relief. It doesn't have to be only on your back! Gravity is your friend, so while it may be routine for birthing people in the hospital to be on their backs, it isn't ideal and definitely not the only option. When birthing on your back your body and baby has to work against gravity. This can increase perineal trauma, instrumental birth, and episiotomy. Change positions every 30 minutes, alternating through the basic 4 positions.
Standing- walking, lunges, slow dancing, squatting
All fours- this is a great option if you have back labor
Sitting- on a birth ball or squatting on a birth stool or using rebozo
Reclining- use a peanut ball or pillow to comfortably support your legs
Change the position of your legs (hips extended or flexed, knees rotated out or in) to move your pelvic bones and help create space for your baby to move down and out.
The items listed in this article are just a few of the choices you have when you are giving birth. Being informed about what choices you have can help you have a more pleasurable birth experience and allow you to be in control of your birth, body, and baby.