Mandatory IV and Fetal Monitoring -- Also C-section rate for Foxhall Group

[francine]

Planning on having a natural birth and am trying to decide on OBs. One delivers at Holy Cross (Footer), the other at Sibley (Foxhall Group). If I am going to go natural, I don't want to be restricted to a bed and attached to an IV and fetal monitor the whole time. I know that this is the policy at some hospitals. I can't find anything about this on either hospital's website. Did anyone have a natural birth at Sibley or HC without being attached to machines the entire time? Thanks is advance! Also, does anyone know the C-section rate for the Foxhall group?

[Anonymous]

In most situations, whether or not you have an IV or electronic fetal monitoring is the decision of your OB.

[Anonymous]

Any reason why you wouldn't go with one of the hospital based midwifery groups? They never require these things.

Sibley and Holy Cross both require IV's and electronic fetal monitoring. At these hospitals you have to be EXTREMELY confident and firm to refuse these things - regardless whether or not your doctor "approves". I can't tell you how many women I've worked with at these hospitals who have adamantly stated they don't want a routine IV, only to be bullied into it. If you're willing to really fight, then go for it. Otherwise, switch to a midwife - either Midwifery Care Associates or the DC Birth Center midwives at WHC, and they'll actually *help you* acheive your natural childbirth.

[francine]

I didn't realize that midwives delivered at WHC. Definately something I will consider.

I just don't understand why it is becoming so difficult for a woman to deliver naturally with a doctor?!

[Anonymous]

[quote=francine]
I didn't realize that midwives delivered at WHC. Definately something I will consider.

I just don't understand why it is becoming so difficult for a woman to deliver naturally with a doctor?![/quote]

The more of us who do it and stand up for what we want, the more the whole system will get used to it. I plan to think of my personal objection to an automatic IV as a polite but firm stand for me and future women.

[Anonymous]

oh pleeeeeze......suffering through childbirth is not a badge oh honor...........i am guilty of wanting to 100% enjoy the entire process...The love of my life is entering the world...I don't need to welcome them with the drama similar to that of a train wreck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:oh pleeeeeze......suffering through childbirth is not a badge oh honor...........i am guilty of wanting to 100% enjoy the entire process...The love of my life is entering the world...I don't need to welcome them with the drama similar to that of a train wreck!

The OP is asking for specific advice about the kind of birth she wants. Move along to a post that is more to your interest.

[Anonymous]

This is the sort of question she should be asking prospective doctors. Rates of C-sections? Egads.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks to the ladies with the helpful advice!

[Anonymous]

I don't get the big deal about IVs. You can get what's called a hep lock (where they put the iv in but don't hook you up to anything). The idea behind an IV is that the medical team is able to give you IV fluids, what have you, in the case of an emergency. Do you really want the nurse fiddling around trying to find a spot for the iv in the middle of an emergency?

[Anonymous]

I plan on agreeing to a hep lock if they are militant about the IV. I really don't want the IV because I have a friend that was planning a natural hospital birth and was given Pitocin without her knowledge through the IV. She found out later, when the baby was in distress.

[Anonymous]

I work at Holy Cross. Dr. Footer is a well respected OB who is great in all situations - whether it is natural or pain control the entire time. If you want a natural birth it is imperative that you prepare yourself to deal with all the pain and discomfort involved. They are quick to throw IV's and monitors on women who just can't take the heat of the process because if the mom is in distress the baby is most likely in distress. This only happens after all techniques for calming have been used. You will be required to have intermittent monitoring but not required to be hooked up to the monitor the entire process. From a medical prospective it is a good idea to have a hep lock PIV in case of any emergency. If you are a witness to any of these emergencies they run much smoother for mom and baby if access is already established. Again though that is your choice. Have a discussion with your nurse that you don't want anything hooked into your IV without your knowledge unless it is an emergency for the well being of you or your baby. If you are alert and aware of your surroundings you will know if they are hooking something into your IV. I don't think any of this is unreasonable and I am a big fan of epidural/IV fluid/monitoring throughout the entire labor process. I hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

I had an unmedicated vaginal delivery at Sibley in 2006. I had the hep block (sp?) with nothing attached and I was on the monitor for 15 min every hour. I told the nurse that I did not want Pitocin and they let me labor on my own. The wonderful nurse suggested I take a shower and that really progressed things (guess I was relaxed).

[Anonymous]

You might ask Foxhall's office manager what the practice's C/S rate is. Their statistics should be available upon request.

As a doula, I've worked with Foxhall on many occasions. The majority of these clients have had unmedicated births.

If you are interested in nurse-midwives (who are experts in low-intervention birth), but want a hospital birth, certainly look into Midwifery Care Associates, the Family Health & Birth Center, and Whitney Pinger. Whitney is a private-practice CNM who delivers at Washington Hospital Center as well.

And a doula can certainly help! A great support team is very important.

HTH!

[Anonymous]

I also had a natural birth at Sibley (with Foxhall), and only had the hep-lock put in my hand (never used). I had to be "hooked up" to the fetal monitor for 20 minutes when I first came in, and after than the nurse was nice enough to hold the monitor to my stomach in whatever position I was in whenever she had the hourly monitoring. She also checked my blood pressure every so often, but that only takes a minute.