From Giving Birth with Confidence.

• Routine IV use restricts movement, decreases confidence, may over-hydrate you and may contribute to low blood sugar in baby.
• Restricting eating and drinking in labor depletes energy when you need it most.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends offering fluids by mouth and eliminating routine IV use during labor.
• The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) recommends that those with low-risk labors be allowed to drink clear liquids (such as water, non-pulp juice, carbonated drinks, clear tea and black coffee).

You’ll Need IV Fluids If...

• You develop health problems or complications before or during labor.
• You’re at high risk for complications.
• Your labor is induced or sped up with Pitocin.
• You have an epidural.
• You're receiving medication such as antibiotics in labor.

How to Avoid Unnecessary of IV Fluids

• Choose your caregiver and birth site carefully.
• Talk to your caregiver about your desire to eat, drink and avoid unnecessary IV use.
• Confidently eat and drink while you labor at home.
• Labor at home as long as possible.

How to Keep Labor as Safe and Healthy as Possible if You Will Need an IV

• Labor at home as long as possible
• Eat and drink in response to your body’s needs while you’re at home.
• Suck on ice chips, Popsicles or lollipops during labor.
• Walk around with your IV pole.
• Stay as active as possible.
• Remember that you don’t need the IV to have a safe birth and a healthy baby.
• If you need IV fluids only at certain times (such as for medications), have the IV tube disconnected between doses.
• Ask to have the IV placed in your forearm rather than your wrist or near your elbow so that you can still move around easily.