Your General Labor and Birth Options

When I look back at my first pregnancy and birth, I can’t help but laugh at how clueless I was. Seriously, I had NO idea what I was getting into. Like many first-time moms, I thought I had to just do whatever the doctor and nurses told me, not realizing I had choices. I didn’t even know I had options! And boy, after that first birth went completely haywire, I learned fast. Now, as a childbirth educator and doula, I’m passionate about sharing what I’ve learned with other moms. So today, I want to dive into some of the key options you have for labor and birth.

We’re going to cover:

• The birth environment

• Labor positions and movement

• Eating and drinking in labor

• IV fluids

• Monitoring your baby’s heart rate

• Cervical exams

I won’t go too deep into each topic (you’ll need to check out my online childbirth education course for that), but I’ll give you a solid overview to help you make informed choices. Let’s dive in!

The Birth Environment

The environment where you give birth can have a huge impact on your experience. Why? Because your hormones, especially oxytocin (the "love hormone"), are directly affected by how safe and calm you feel. Oxytocin flows best when you feel secure, relaxed, and in a comfortable space. That means your birth environment should be tailored to your needs, whether that’s dim lighting, soft music, calming scents, or hanging up birth affirmations.

In my course, I go over how to create a birth environment that encourages oxytocin flow and helps you stay calm and focused. I also highlight some common things that can interfere, like too many people in the room or harsh, bright lights. If you’d like some free affirmation cards to help create that calming space, you can download them here.

Labor Positions & Movement

One of the most underrated aspects of labor is the freedom to move. Intuitive movement is incredibly powerful in helping labor progress. It’s not just about getting into "recommended" positions but about listening to your body and finding what feels right for you in the moment.

Certain positions can help create space in the pelvis, making it easier for the baby to move down during different stages of labor. I talk more about these positions in my course, but the main thing to remember is this: trust your body. Move how you feel comfortable, and don’t be afraid to switch positions as you go!

Eating and Drinking in Labor

Did you know that the “nothing by mouth” policy during labor is outdated? It stems from practices in the 1940s, when women were heavily sedated during labor and the risk of aspiration (breathing in food or liquids) was a concern. But anesthesia practices have changed dramatically since then, and the risk of aspiration during labor is now extremely rare.

Even the American Society of Anesthesiologists said in 2015 that it’s safe for women to eat and drink during labor. Yet, many hospitals still follow this outdated policy, and IV fluids are often pushed as a replacement. Research doesn’t support this "nothing by mouth" rule or the routine use of IVs during labor. In my course, I dive into the pros and cons of each approach and help you make the best choice for your birth plan.

IV Fluids

Routine IV fluids are often offered in labor, but they aren't always necessary. Many hospitals follow the protocol of giving IV fluids to laboring women, but research shows that for most low-risk pregnancies, drinking water and eating light snacks provide the same benefits with fewer risks. In my course, I walk you through the benefits and drawbacks of using IV fluids and offer alternatives.

Monitoring Your Baby’s Heart Rate

Fetal monitoring is one of those things that sounds great in theory but doesn’t always deliver the benefits you’d expect. Continuous electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) became popular because it was thought to reduce brain damage in babies by catching changes in heart rate. However, studies show that EFM hasn’t improved outcomes for babies but has significantly increased the rate of cesarean deliveries.

Intermittent listening, on the other hand, has been shown to provide the same benefits as continuous monitoring with fewer interventions. In my course, I go into detail about the different ways to monitor your baby’s heart rate and how to balance the benefits and risks. Plus, I share tips on how to avoid unnecessary interventions, like false alarms from EFM.

Cervical Exams

Lastly, let’s talk about cervical exams. In late pregnancy and during labor, cervical exams are often done to check dilation, effacement (thinning of the cervix), and the baby’s position. While these exams can satisfy curiosity, they don’t actually provide much clinically useful information unless you're being induced. The routine use of cervical checks has not been shown to improve outcomes for moms or babies and can introduce unnecessary risks, such as infection.

If you're uncomfortable with cervical exams, you have the right to decline them. In my course, I teach you how to navigate conversations with your provider and set boundaries if you're feeling pressured into something you don't want.

Conclusion: You Have Choices!

So there you have it—a quick overview of just some of the choices you have during labor and birth. As you can see, there are a ton of decisions to make, which is why education is SO important! I love walking women through their birth options and helping them make informed decisions based on the birth they want. If you want to dive deeper into these topics and more, I’d love to guide you through my online childbirth education course.

Thanks for reading! If you found this post helpful, I’d love it if you’d share it with anyone expecting a baby or hoping to have one in the future. And if you want to keep the conversation going, follow me on Instagram @wildflower_birthservices and let’s chat!

Until next time, sending you love, light, and positive birthing vibes. 🌸Lindsee

P.S. If you'd like to come on my podcast, The Birth & Baby Podcast, to share your birth story, DM me! I'd love to hear from you.