IV or No IV? Stress vs. Relaxation

In a hospital birth, when you arrive, and register, you will be given an IV procedure. 

Consider this: Using hypnosis for birth and self-hypnosis to create an experience you want during labor, you may find that it is possible to request an IV-free birth.

The origin of the IV practice comes from the times before epidurals. As with all interventions, an I.V. is necessary when there is medical indication for its use. For example, if a woman is vomiting throughout her labor, she may need the fluids and calories the I.V. provides.

But why would a woman be vomiting?                  

If a mother is fearful, her body would produce adrenaline.         

         

Production of adrenaline is a ‘fight or flight’ body natural response. When adrenaline is produced, all other normal processes in the body slow down or stop including digestion, and ...... labor, as blood is directed away from "secondary" survival centers, to the parts of the body active in stress response... arms and legs. The processes inside the torso pretty much come to a halt. 

Like an animal in danger, why would a threatened woman continue to give birth if the situation is uncertain?

If general anesthesia is administered, or painkiller epidural, one of the ways a mother respond to it is vomit.  In order for the vomit to not get into lungs and cause even more problems, it became a standard procedure to prohibit food and water intake in a hospital birth.  Therefore the I.V. became a way to hydrate and nourish a mother in labor.

Using hypnosis in labor assists general relaxation, conducive visualizations, and deep abdominal breathing. When in relaxation the mother enters into a completely different state of being called 'rest and digest', which is a complete opposite of the fight and flight response of stress. 

The relaxed mother's responses are natural. In relaxation she feels at ease and joyful, and there in no space for fear. Each surge is met with a relaxed dee abdominal breath helping her translate her sensations into joy and peaceful anticipation. Her husband is near, and his support makes her calmer. 

Instead of fearful and screaming energy, she creates energy that is directed and intentional, helping her baby make their way to the exit, with joy and relaxed readiness to do what it takes to have the birth that she wants.