Pros and Cons of IVs, Fetal Monitoring, and Epidurals

The Importance of Sides During Labor: Pros and Cons of IVs, Fetal Monitoring, and Epidurals

When it comes to labor and birth, each choice can make a difference in how you experience this deeply transformative time. Today, let's explore some of the most common interventions—IVs, fetal monitoring, and epidurals—and why understanding the pros and cons of each is important. As a doula, I believe in empowering you to make decisions that align with your goals, comfort, and the unique journey you’re on.

It is important to feel comfortable questioning routine practices in the birthing room. You have the right to ask about alternatives, explore your options, and choose what feels best for you and your baby. Let’s look at each of these interventions and how they can influence the birth experience.

IVs: Maintaining Hydration and Flexibility

The Pros: IVs are commonly used in labor to ensure you stay hydrated, especially if you’re unable to drink enough water or need fluids quickly. They can also be helpful in certain medical situations, such as if labor becomes prolonged or if additional medications are needed. By having an IV in place, medical staff can respond quickly if medications or other treatments are needed.

The Cons: While IVs can be beneficial, they can also add a level of restriction that may impact your mobility. Being tethered to an IV pole can make it harder to change positions freely or use comfort measures like walking, swaying, or laboring in water—all of which can ease pain and promote progress. Some people find IVs uncomfortable, and the added tubes can sometimes feel intrusive, creating a more “medicalized” atmosphere in the birth space.

Alternative Approach: If staying hydrated is your main goal, you might ask about being able to drink fluids or use ice chips. Sometimes, a “saline lock” or “hep lock” can be placed, giving quick access to an IV if needed but leaving you free from continuous attachment. This compromise lets you keep the flexibility you want while having a quick safety measure in place.

Fetal Monitoring: Keeping Track of Baby’s Well-being

The Pros: Fetal monitoring is a tool for monitoring your baby’s heart rate during labor. In some cases, it can provide early warning if there are signs of distress, allowing medical staff to respond if intervention is needed. Continuous electronic fetal monitoring, especially in high-risk situations, is sometimes recommended to provide reassurance to parents and healthcare providers alike.

The Cons: Continuous monitoring typically means you’ll have sensors attached to your belly and a belt strapped around you, which can limit movement and may make it harder to get comfortable. Being confined to a bed or needing to adjust sensors frequently if you change positions can interfere with the natural rhythm of labor. Studies also show that continuous monitoring can increase the likelihood of other interventions, such as C-sections, without always improving outcomes for low-risk pregnancies.

Alternative Approach: Intermittent monitoring, where the baby’s heart rate is checked periodically rather than continuously, can be a good option for those without high-risk factors. This lets you move more freely, helps support natural pain relief, and allows labor to progress without the added pressure that comes with constant monitoring. Discuss this with your care team to see if intermittent monitoring could work for you.

Epidurals: Pain Management on Your Terms

The Pros: For many, an epidural is a welcome relief from the intensity of labor pains, providing effective pain management and allowing you to rest. This can be particularly beneficial in prolonged labors, where the physical and emotional toll of hours of contractions can be exhausting. An epidural can also offer peace of mind, knowing you have an option to help you manage pain if it becomes overwhelming.

The Cons: Epidurals can come with limitations, such as the need to remain mostly in bed. While some movement is possible with “walking epidurals,” you won’t have the same flexibility to try upright or active positions, which help facilitate labor’s natural progress. Epidurals can also cause side effects, such as lower blood pressure, fever, or difficulty pushing, which may lead to additional interventions. There’s also the possibility of slowing labor, which sometimes leads to the use of Pitocin to strengthen contractions.

Alternative Approach: If you’re open to non-medical pain management, options like breathing techniques, movement, massage, and water immersion can offer effective relief, especially when combined with support from a doula or birth partner. Some people choose to keep the option of an epidural open while exploring other ways to cope with pain, giving themselves the flexibility to adapt as labor unfolds.

Finding Your Own Path Through Labor

Ultimately, labor isn’t a one-size-fits-all experience; every intervention has its place depending on the individual and their unique circumstances. Understanding the role of IVs, fetal monitoring, and epidurals can give you confidence in shaping a birth plan that reflects your priorities.

Remember, this is your birth experience, and it’s okay to ask questions, explore alternatives, and change your mind if that’s what feels right in the moment. Whether you opt for certain interventions or take a more hands-off approach, each choice is part of a journey that’s deeply personal to you and your baby.

Labor is a beautiful balance of strength, surrender, and self-advocacy—let’s navigate this experience together, making it yours in every way.