Anyone with a successful IV- and medication-free hospital birth story?

Question

Before I explain this question further... I absolutely respect ALL types of births and birth preferences. The safe birth of my baby is my top priority, and should there be any medical need for more intensive medical interventions I will be understanding and cooperative. This question is posed under the assumption that this may be a low-risk birth. (Never a safe assumption, I know!)

A year ago yesterday I had to be induced to deliver our 20 week old stillborn baby boy. It was a missed miscarriage, and he had passed away a couple weeks prior because of a randomly-occurring chromosomal problem. This was traumatic in so many ways; he was our first baby, absolutely wanted and anticipated, and I had been planning to have a non-medicated water birth with midwives in a private rural birthing center. I had read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and was totally excited to trust my body to give birth in its own time in a quiet, loving environment.

Reality was a total 180: instead we were sent to a hospital we'd never been to, with a doctor we'd never met, immediately hooked to an IV, and induced to deliver a baby who would never take his first breath. It was my worst-case scenario.

While it was a heart-breaking couple of days, we were blessed with the most caring and wonderful nurses and our randomly assigned doctor was so warm and incredible. He took time to sit down and talk with us, understand our background, and respect our concerns about being in the hospital. The whole experience made me reconsider my opinion on hospital births.

Fast forward a year to today, and we're 16 weeks along with our rainbow baby! Praise God! I have been seeing the same OB who delivered our first baby and our plan is to deliver in the hospital (literally 5 blocks from our house).  Even though the part of my mind that was worried about a medical emergency situation has been put at ease by this decision, I have been reading a lot of hospital birth stories and have an increasing sense of anxiety that some of my birth preferences may be put in jeopardy.

Things like being induced (unless too far past due date or a medical necessity), having an IV, being mobile and allowed to labor in various positions, being constantly monitored, being offered pain medication without asking, delaying cord clamping and newborn cleaning/weighing (assuming baby is well on arrival), and delivering placenta without pitocin are things that mean a lot to me, but I'm afraid that hospital staff may roll their eyes if I roll in with a birth plan that's too "crunchy-granola."

I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced a hospital birth where they were able to be mobile and active the whole time; sort of a home-birth-hospital-birth hybrid of sorts? I'm already looking into doulas and natural childbirth classes, but want to know if anyone has more advice on this. Like I said, the safety of baby is number one, but if possible, I want to give my body the best chance possible to do this on its own without interventions. Thanks for sharing ☺

Answer

I did! I think I'm very lucky to have a hospital and provider that are very up to date with things. I worked with the midwife team at my medical group. This was my third baby, and I had short labors with my first two. I made it clear that I wanted to have a med free, induction free, intervention free birth as much as possible.
I went in with contractions about 4-6 minutes apart. They had a room ready for me and I didn't have to go through triage. We discussed my wishes and the nurse and I decided that I would have to ask for an epidural 3 times while NOT having a contraction before they would give me one. This was our way of giving me the option to get it, but also to help me with my goal of no meds.  
They also gave me the option of an iv, but I opted out of t because I didn't want to feel tied down. The only negative on this is that if I wanted the epidural I'd have to wait to get an iv and fluids before they would place one. 
I labored for 22 hours, completely free to do what I wanted. I sat on an inflatable birthing chair, walked the halls, laid in bed, labored in the shower, ate, drank, everything. My labor stalled at 5 cm for a while and we decided to break my water bag, and that ramped things up. I gave birth within 4 hours after it was broke. 
I did end up delivering laying down on my back because it was the most comfortable for me. I tried squatting and leaning over the back of the bed, but it just wasn't doing much for me. 
I'm pretty sure they gave me a shot of pitocin after she was born, which I gave permission for them to do way before delivery. 
It was a really amazing birth experience and I was incredibly happy with the team I had.

Answer

My first was an intervention free hospital birth, and I plan to do it again. With my first I hired a doula and had a midwife. I started this pregnancy with an OB but decided to switch to a midwife and I'm glad I did, as well as hire a doula again. The hospital did require an IV, but allowed a hep-lock so I was able to move around. They also allowed for intermittent monitoring and I was never told I had to stay in bed.  I think the nurse checked the baby's heart rate once the whole time I was there. I labored at home as long as possible, and only spent 2-3hrs at the hospital before my son was born.  Don't worry about feeling like you're putting the hospital or your OB out by asking questions.  It's your body, your birth, and your baby. Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself. Your OB should know what is standard procedure at the hospital. I would also ask their c-section rate.

Answer

I was told that if I want to prevent unnecessary medical intervention then I need to labor at home for as long as possible. I also have been reading ina mays guide to child birth and It really has empowered me to take control of my birth experience. I want my body to do things the way God intended. Doctors can interfere if and only if there is a problem. I read so many stories on here where pitocin is given way before it's needed and women are told to lay only on their backs or side, they aren't able to get up! So my plan is to do as much laboring as I can at home, I'll go to the hospital when my contractions are three minutes apart. I live across the street from the hospital so I'll be there quickly.

Answer

Congratulations on your rainbow!

I truly felt the hospital staff were very respectful of my wishes. Unfortunately for me my delivery did not go as planned, but I wanted to comment anyway because the nurses were all awesome and supportive of me. I also was very interested and invested in a non medicated and vaginal birth, so choosing a hospital over a birth center weighed on me throughout my pregnancy. But due to complications, I was very fortunate to have been in the hospital after all and now have a healthy baby girl.

I hope you have an amazing experience!

Answer

I gave birth at a rather typical hospital and was able to walk around freely except for a couple random checks with toco for baby. No lines, nothing. I walked around until I decided I wanted to be in the bed haha

Answer

So sorry to hear about your previous loss.

I had an induced labor at almost 42 weeks - so not ideal but wanted to share my perspective on a hospital labor and delivery as I feel they get a bad rap. 😉

Even in my situation the staff completely respected my body and my wishes. Every step was discussed with me along the way. Baby was born and placed immediately on my chest while the placenta was delivered. We did delayed cord clamping. Bath was not until the next day. A lactaction consultant came by to check on us within a few hours. The nurses were very respectful of my choice to breastfeed and we had a wonderful nurse that helped through difficulties that first night.

During labor I had the option of walking, using a jetted tub, squatting and other various positions.

While I hope that I will have a chance to spontaneously labor in the future, I'm thankful for the positive experience I had.

Answer

It's totally possible. Does your hospital offer a birthing class or tour? I took just a general birthing class at my hospital and they went over their policies and touched on natural birth procedures as well as pain options. They were very receptive to non-medicated births and as long as you don't have an epidural or IV pain meds, you are able to walk around, and labor in different positions including on an exercise ball!

Answer

hybrid story here. I also had read Ina May Gaskins books and watched her YouTube videos but I knew I would be delivering in a hospital. I submitted a birth "nothing goes according to plan" plan that sounds a lot like yours. but I was well versed on the hospital policies and knew in advance that some of my wishes would definitely never fly. for example, they mandate that an IV is started, but they won't hook it up to anything or start putting fluids in it if you ask them not to. you have to know the hospital policies inside and out before you decide how to write your plan. Literally not one single thing happened on my plan BUT I was an active, informed decision maker at every step of the way so I was left feeling fulfilled, happy, content with my experience. for example, I was allowed to move about, dance, walk the halls, play my music, use my essential oils diffuser, take a bath (until my water broke, as per hospital policy). I was allowed to use my breast pump to stimulate labor. I was not allowed to eat but the nurses turned a blind eye to my eating simple bland liquidy foods like chicken noodle soup. Despite tremendous pain, I was never asked about wanting pain relief (as per my request)but i always knew it was available if I initiated the inquiry.  I was allowed to continue laboring for 45 hours because mom and baby both looked healthy and my water hadn't broken too soon. I was allowed to continue pushing for 2.5 hours. No one mentioned a c section. I unfortunately needed the NICU and the NICU staff saved my infant, for  reasons unrelated to the birth itself, and I'm thankful I had that resource available to me. Feel free to ask me any questions.

Answer

I delivered in a hospital and had no issues with my labor wishes. I walked the halls, swayed and bounced on a ball, got to sit in a jacuzzi tub, whatever I wanted. I told them I wanted to try med free and my nurse told me I could do it, and that she'd help me through it. I think as long as your nurse staff knows you're wishes, they'll be ok with it.  Best of luck. 
And I'm so sorry to hear about your loss ❤️

Anyone with a successful IV- and medication-free hospital birth story?

Let's Glow!

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey