group b strep and natural labor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've attended births in most of the area hospitals, and ALL of them require an IV (or heplock as an alternative). Of course in some hospitals it might be easier for a mom to refuse the IV (or heplock) but all hospitals want you to have one, no matter how you are planning to deliver. You have to have an out-of-hospital birth in order to not be hassled about getting an IV.

I had no IV at Virginia Hospital Center. I was offered several times, but declined. Wanting you to have one and requiring you to have one are two different things.

Do you recall what you said and how you said it when you declined? I want to stand firm without making an enemy of the nurses or having them think I don't respect their position.

I had a birth plan that had been made part of my file that my doctor supported. Honestly, I just simply said "no thank you." I was really surprised at how much everyone knew about my birth plan before coming in to see me. When the resident came in, she even started out by saying, "I know you're trying to avoid interventions," before I said a word to her about it. And this was all before my OB even got to the hospital. I really didn't have to fight with anyone about anything. The nurse did offer it several times, but it didn't upset me. I had a long pushing phase and was clearly exhausted. I sometimes wonder if the IV would have helped. But that's another topic. I also brought a box of chocolates for the nurses. But I don't think DH had even given it to them yet and I don't think that's what did it anyway.

[Anonymous]

I find it pretty annoying that some people on these boards make statements as if they know something for sure. Seriously, don't post something like this if you're "almost positive." That helps no one.

IVs are *not* required at all hospitals in the area.

Okay, I agree that it was not terribly helpful information. I should have said that all of the hospitals I've been to have policy that require it. Obviously this does not equal you being forced to get it; just that the hospitals require it. I honestly don't know of a single hospital that makes it completely optional, so I would definitely be interested in knowing what hospitals you know of that don't require it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I find it pretty annoying that some people on these boards make statements as if they know something for sure. Seriously, don't post something like this if you're "almost positive." That helps no one.

IVs are *not* required at all hospitals in the area.

Okay, I agree that it was not terribly helpful information. I should have said that all of the hospitals I've been to have policy that require it. Obviously this does not equal you being forced to get it; just that the hospitals require it. I honestly don't know of a single hospital that makes it completely optional, so I would definitely be interested in knowing what hospitals you know of that don't require it.

An IV -as in fluids? No one even mentioned an IV to me at VHC. (Had a heplock for Group b though).

[Anonymous]

I gave birth (at an out-of-hospital birth center) before my Group B Strep test came back, so I had to have the antibiotics prophylactically. It's as a PP described -- the midwife put in a heplock in my hand/arm, which didn't hurt (to my surprise). That stayed in throughout labor, and I got a 10-15 minute course of antibiotics every 4 hours. In between I could move around freely, and even when getting the antibiotics I could move around in a slightly more restricted fashion (the antibiotics IV bag had to be near/above me).

I *think* I remember that I wasn't supposed to get the heplock wet, so I had to keep that hand out of the jacuzzi tub I was in for a while (side note -- if you're doing natural labor, MAN is the jacuzzi tub a gift from heaven!!)

Hope you have a wonderful experience!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I find it pretty annoying that some people on these boards make statements as if they know something for sure. Seriously, don't post something like this if you're "almost positive." That helps no one.

IVs are *not* required at all hospitals in the area.

Okay, I agree that it was not terribly helpful information. I should have said that all of the hospitals I've been to have policy that require it. Obviously this does not equal you being forced to get it; just that the hospitals require it. I honestly don't know of a single hospital that makes it completely optional, so I would definitely be interested in knowing what hospitals you know of that don't require it.

Well, it looks like 3 people on this thread have said VHC didn't require it. You seem to be using words interchangeably that don't mean the same thing. A hospital that doesn't force you to get it = a hospital that doesn't require it. You seem to suggest a hospital can both require it, and then not force you to get it. If they don't force you to get it, it means they don't require it. Then you jump to concept of a hospital that makes it completely optional, as if there were no gray area in between. I think what you're trying to say is that, in your experience, some hospitals have a policy of strongly encouraging it. That's very different than requiring it. Three people on this thread, including myself, have told you that it wasn't required at a local hospital. I can't speak to other hospitals (because I don't know), but in my experience VHC doesn't require it.

[Anonymous]

An IV -as in fluids? No one even mentioned an IV to me at VHC. (Had a heplock for Group b though).

No, an IV - as in a plastic port going into your vein. A heplock IS an IV; it's a type of IV that many laboring women prefer because they can unhook from pole whenever they are not getting the antibiotics, or the fluids, or whatever it is they are giving you through the IV. Some hospitals automatically do a heplock these days, and all hospitals will happily give you one (instead of the continuous IV) if you ask. But, you were still required to have it at VHC.

Just because something is required doesn't mean they will kick you out of the hospital if you absolutely refuse it. Yeah, this is somewhat of a semantics game and I'm honestly not trying to debate. I guess my point that I want to get across is that hospitals don't own you. Even when things are "required" you have the right to refuse. Some people would argue that if that's the case, it means they don't actually require it. Well, fine. I don't care how you define the terms. Though I will say it's tough to comprehend until you give birth in a place where it's not even mentioned. Where no policy exists at all about you needing a hole in your arm, unless something actually goes wrong and it's indicated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

But, you were still required to have it at VHC.

In my experience (and the experience of a couple of others on this thread), this is simply not true. Yes, it was offered to me, but they also offered me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I politely declined both. Even during the hospital tour the nurse told us they encouraged the use of IVs. That's hardly a mere semantical difference from a "requirement." There's a huge difference between encouraging and requiring.

[Anonymous]

Do you have to sign an AMA form? I was in a hospital once and wanted to decline a series of tests that clearly were unnecessary. The attending did not have a clue. The residents even raised their eyebrows. When I declined I was informed that I would need to sign the AMA form and couldn't stay in the hospital or have other tests treatment, which was fine since I wanted to leave. Afterwards I saw my regular doctor the next day and she agreed that the doctor was going down the wrong path so I wasn't crazy.

Later it got me thinking...I wasn't a prison why did I have to sign an AMA form to leave? It doesn't sound right that you couldn't not decline one test and then have to leave and decline all other treatment.

If you refuse an IV can the hospital refuse to treat you and send you somehwere else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I find it pretty annoying that some people on these boards make statements as if they know something for sure. Seriously, don't post something like this if you're "almost positive." That helps no one.

IVs are *not* required at all hospitals in the area.

Okay, I agree that it was not terribly helpful information. I should have said that all of the hospitals I've been to have policy that require it. Obviously this does not equal you being forced to get it; just that the hospitals require it. I honestly don't know of a single hospital that makes it completely optional, so I would definitely be interested in knowing what hospitals you know of that don't require it.

Sibley doesn't require it either. Actually, I haven't heard of a single hospital in the area that does require it; that info comes from my doula, who has worked at every area hospital. Your OB makes the decisions, not the hospital, and whatever the doctor says goes.

[Anonymous]

I didn't have to sign an AMA at VHC to decline the IV.