Un-hooked

[chattybadtz]

Can you refuse an IV or Hep block during labor? I'm 23 weeks and this is my third pregnancy. I just hate the thought of being "hooked up" to anything but a fetal monitor.

Am I being too extreme with this request or is this just hospital policy?

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Comments

[powerpuffer]

where I plan to birth as long as you have a negative hep-b test result you can decline the IV

you can do anything you want, as a good friend of mine who is a doula has taught me, the phrase "I do not consent" is your friend :)

[white_turtle]

I did not have a hep lock or an IV during my 30+ hour labour. I didn't even let them hook me up to a fetal monitor. It's not extreme at all, I wanted a natural birth and it was clearly outlined in my birth plan.

[mspeacockwi]

same here. I had an intermittent (sp?) fetal monitor.

[white_turtle]

Me too. Some doctors were more pushy about it than others but I ran the damn show.

[mspeacockwi]

you definitely have options. I didn't have either at my birth, but it really depends on the hospital you are birthing at. Some have 'policies' in case there is an emergency, etc. I would check with your practitioner. You might want to check out the naturalbirth lj community as well. I had two hospital births- one natural, one not. Next time I'm opting for a homebirth :)

[sandokai]

You can refuse anything, but they can react any way they want to your refusal...

I think an IV or Hep lock is not necessarily standard with some exceptions. I had a birthing center birth turned hospital transfer (for pitocin) and then I think I had an IV, but I was in too much immobilizing pain to care. If I did have one, I think it was because of the Pitocin, not because I was in labor or at the hospital.

My second will be a hospital VBAC and for that a Hep lock is considered "required" (though I could probably refuse if I wanted, but I don't think it will be too constrictive to just have it as long as it isn't attached to an IV). If it was a first labor or a non-VBAC it would not be "required."

[darlahood]

Don't give birth in a hospital?

[sxdx]

+1, yes!

[jaysons_lady]

+1

Because fighting doctors and nurses while you are in labor sucks major donkey balls.