Community› The Bump Message Boards› Natural Birth
Natural Birth
New Discussion

intermittent monitoring in hospital

cmt115cmt115 member
in Natural Birth

hi,

ive been lurking a bit and now that im getting closer to the end (and realizing this baby is going to need to come out), im learning all i can about natural birth.

 i just took my childbirth/ lamaze class at the hospital and learned that their "intermittent fetal monitoring"  is 45 minutes on and 15 minutes off. though they encouraged moving around as much as possible during labor, how are you supposed to do this when 45 minutes of every hour, you are being asked to lay in bed for monitoring? seems counterproductive. suggestions would be appreciated. id like to labor naturally and move around as much as possible.

 thanks!

Report Reply to Post

Re: intermittent monitoring in hospital

  • wifeofadamwifeofadam member

    Just talk to your OB or MW about their policies and what they will let you do.  With #2 I was able to labor in the hospital without the monitor.  I was in labor there for a total of four hours and I was probably hooked up to the monitor for a total of 45 minutes throughout. 

    45 minutes on and 15 minutes off doesn't seem like much of a compromise.  Nothing feels worse to me during labor than lying in a bed hooked up to a bunch of stuff.

        
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • alanapalanap

    Ha! That doesn't sound very "intermittent" to me.  You should try to negotiate that down with your practitioner.

    Report Reply
  • tokenhosertokenhoser member

    Definitely negotiate with your doctor.

    I would also plan to labour at home until you're quite far along. This explains how to decide when to go in:

    https://bellyupbaby.blogspot.com/2011/07/is-it-time-to-go-to-hospital.html 

    I would hazard a guess that if that's their monitoring policy, it's probably not the only challenge you will face there. Are there any other options for location?

    AlternaTickers - Cool, free Web tickers
    AlternaTickers - Cool, free Web tickers
    Natural Birth Board FAQs
    Cloth Diaper Review Sheet

    Report Reply
  • robyn2201robyn2201 member

    Did they say you had to stay in bed while on the monitors? I had planned to do intermittent with DD, but I really didn't find it to be annoying in any way and ended up leaving them on the entire time. I still moved around. Obviously I didn't walk around the room or in the halls. But I was able to stand and move around near the bed. I only ever got back into bed, when I requested to be checked.

    I would definitely talk to your OB about the 45 min on and 15 min off. How did the hospital seem in regards to other policies?

    Ivy: July 2010  |  Stella: Dec 2012  |  BFP#3: MMC at 11Wk's, July 2017 | Wyatt: April 2019 | BFP#5: Twin Girls due Sept 2020

    Report Reply
  • cmt115cmt115 member

    thanks for the answers and information. i will ask tomorrow when i go.

    yes, from what i understood i would have to be in bed for the monitoring.

    the hospital seems very pro-medication. though i get the impression you "could" do natural birth, they have a pretty high rate of epidurals. im trying to research other options now but im feeling like im cutting it pretty close.. 6 weeks away. im close to the hospital so i do plan to stay at home for as long as possible.

    ill keep checking this board for more info to help me along the way.

     

    Report Reply
  • robyn2201robyn2201 member
    imagecmt115:

    thanks for the answers and information. i will ask tomorrow when i go.

    yes, from what i understood i would have to be in bed for the monitoring.

    the hospital seems very pro-medication. though i get the impression you "could" do natural birth, they have a pretty high rate of epidurals. im trying to research other options now but im feeling like im cutting it pretty close.. 6 weeks away. im close to the hospital so i do plan to stay at home for as long as possible.

    ill keep checking this board for more info to help me along the way.

    What I am wondering is.. what would they do if you just got out of bed? Like don't ask beforehand, just do it. Worst case scenario they would come tell you to get back in.

    I honestly didn't even think that it might be hospital policy to stay have to stay in the bed while being monitored and when my doula suggested finding a comfortable position, the first thing in my head was I want to stand and I just go out. Someone previously posted a blog post about this type of thing (don't ask, just do it). It was a good read. I should have bookmarked it. Maybe I can find it.

    Obviously there is a fine line between doing what you want and making your provider and nurse mad at you and becoming "that" patient, but 45 min on and only 15 min off sounds really strict.

    I have also read other birth stories from moms, in which they requested to go to the bathroom so they could get off the monitor for a few minutes. Just a thought.

    Ivy: July 2010  |  Stella: Dec 2012  |  BFP#3: MMC at 11Wk's, July 2017 | Wyatt: April 2019 | BFP#5: Twin Girls due Sept 2020

    Report Reply
  • aylafsu88aylafsu88 member
    image+adamwife+:

    Just talk to your OB or MW about their policies and what they will let you do.  With #2 I was able to labor in the hospital without the monitor.  I was in labor there for a total of four hours and I was probably hooked up to the monitor for a total of 45 minutes throughout. 

    45 minutes on and 15 minutes off doesn't seem like much of a compromise.  Nothing feels worse to me during labor than lying in a bed hooked up to a bunch of stuff.

    The bold part.  It is all up to the OB and the policies they like to follow.  Talk to your OB and see what they say about intermittent monitoring. For me I was able to have the HR checked with a hand doppler about every 30 mins when I was in labor.  This allowed me to walk, lean on the wall, and labor in the tub until it came time to push!

    Report Reply
  • nosoup4unosoup4u member
    Jesus, that's not intermittent at all! Do they have wireless/telemetry units? I would argue for 15 on, once an hour or so. But you can also just take lots of loooong walks or bathroom breaks. And stay at home as long as possible! hth and good luck.
    DS1 - Feb 2008

    DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)

    Report Reply
  • nosoup4unosoup4u member
    imagecmt115:

    thanks for the answers and information. i will ask tomorrow when i go.

    yes, from what i understood i would have to be in bed for the monitoring.

    the hospital seems very pro-medication. though i get the impression you "could" do natural birth, they have a pretty high rate of epidurals. im trying to research other options now but im feeling like im cutting it pretty close.. 6 weeks away. im close to the hospital so i do plan to stay at home for as long as possible.

    ill keep checking this board for more info to help me along the way.


    It's NEVER too late to switch - I would call around and see if you can find somewhere else. If you can contact your local ICAN chapter, they can usually give you an idea of what hospitals lean towards less intervention during labor.

    Going along with the not doing what the hospital asks, I think this is a great link. Make sure you stay polite, and whoever comes in with you knows to stay firm, too. 

    https://rixarixa.blogspot.com/2010/12/dont-ask-just-do.html

    DS1 - Feb 2008

    DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)

    Report Reply
  • cmt115cmt115 member

    nosoup4u - awesome blog article. love the idea .. don't ask, just do!

    ill check around for other options as suggested too. thanks!

    Report Reply
  • nosoup4unosoup4u member
    imagecmt115:

    nosoup4u - awesome blog article. love the idea .. don't ask, just do!

    ill check around for other options as suggested too. thanks!

    You're welcome! Hope it all works out for you.

    DS1 - Feb 2008

    DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)

    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"