Why Understanding Hospital Protocols Matters in Any Natural Birth
Understanding hospital policies and protocols is so important before you give birth - especially if you’re planning a hospital birth.
But honestly? Even if you’re planning an out-of-hospital birth like a home birth or birth center, you probably still have a backup hospital in mind in case you needed to transfer. So this still matters.
And especially if you’re hoping for a low-intervention or no-intervention birth, it is still incredibly important to at least understand what is routine in your hospital.
Because those routines will come up.
If you don’t have a clear picture of what is standard operating procedure, it becomes much harder to interpret suggestions when you’re in labor… while you are also in labor.
And labor is not the ideal time to start learning how your hospital does things.
The Problem With “We’ll Just Go With the Flow”
A lot of moms tell me their birth plan is to “just go with the flow.”
And I understand where that comes from.
You’ve heard birth is unpredictable. You’ve heard you can’t control everything. You don’t want to make waves. You want to trust your provider.
That’s good. I hope you do trust your provider. I hope you’ve chosen someone you align with.
But going in uninformed almost always leads to:
More stress
More confusion
More interventions
Not because anyone is doing something malicious or wrong but because hospitals have a default flow.
They have a standard way of doing things.
And if you don’t speak into that flow, it simply carries you along.
Most U.S. hospitals include multiple interventions as part of routine care unless you’ve clearly communicated otherwise. And that’s why this matters so much, especially if you’re hoping for an unmedicated birth.
Why It’s Harder to Decide in the Moment
Imagine this:
You walk into the hospital in active labor. Contractions are strong. You’re trying to focus.
And suddenly someone says, “Okay, we’re going to place your IV.”
Maybe that hospital places an IV for every mom on admission.
An IV can absolutely be helpful. In some situations, it’s wise. In others, it may not be necessary.
But if you didn’t know that was routine? Now you’re trying to weigh the pros and cons for the very first time in between contractions.
You can ask:
“Do I need this right now?”
“Is this routine for everyone?”
“Is there something specific going on with me?”
But thinking clearly through those questions while coping with labor pain is much harder than discussing it calmly at a prenatal appointment.
And IVs are just one example.
Other common hospital norms may include:
Continuous monitoring
Restrictions on food or drink
Limited movement
Routine cervical checks
Wearing a hospital gown
Specific policies around tubs or showers
Your Support Person Needs to Be Informed Too
This isn’t just about you.
If you don’t know your preferences and the reasoning behind them, your husband (or whoever is your primary support person) won’t either.
And that can create tension at the worst possible time.
Your husband is one of your strongest natural sources of oxytocin. That intimate, secure relationship is powerful. Oxytocin is the hormone that powers contractions. It thrives on connection and safety.
If there’s confusion or disagreement in that relationship during labor, it can absolutely affect your labor flow.
That’s why planning together matters.
When both of you understand:
What’s routine
What you prefer
Why you prefer it
How you’ll respond if something is suggested
You walk in as a unified team and that unity protects your peace.
Hospitals Have Default Policies And Not All of Them Are Purely Medical
Something that’s important to understand: hospital policies don’t all originate from bedside doctors making individualized decisions.
Some policies are shaped by:
Liability concerns
Insurance partnerships
Administrative decision-makers
Risk management strategies
Hospitals are systems.
That doesn’t make them evil. It just means they operate on default pathways.
If you don’t actively speak into those defaults, they will shape your experience automatically.
That’s why education matters.
One Question That Reveals a Lot
At your next prenatal appointment, try asking this:
“Which interventions do you recommend for all laboring women?”
It sounds simple. But it reveals a lot.
If a provider says that every woman needs a particular intervention, that tells you something about their philosophy of birth.
Because recommending something for all laboring women before knowing the specifics of their labor suggests a default intervention mindset rather than individualized care.
That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a bad provider, but it’s great information for you to have if you’re delivering with them.
How to Prepare Wisely (Without Being Combative)
Preparation does not mean showing up ready to fight.
Most of the time, calm and respectful conversations work beautifully.
A simple:
“No thank you. I prefer something different.”
… is often enough.
Preparation allows you to say that calmly instead of reacting out of fear.
Here’s what I recommend:
1. Ask about standard procedures for low-risk births.
“What is typically done for uncomplicated labors here?”
2. Get specific.
Ask about:
Eating and drinking
Continuous vs. intermittent monitoring
Routine IVs
Tub and shower policies
Cervical check frequency
Visitor limits
Newborn procedures
Placenta delivery
3. Create a birth plan.
Use it as a communication tool.
Then bring it back to your provider and go through it together. Learn from their responses.
If you’re seeing multiple providers in a practice, consider reviewing it with the one who best understands your goals.
You can even ask them to sign off on it. That signature can help nursing staff feel more confident honoring your wishes, knowing a provider has already discussed it with you.
Doulas Help Keep Conversations Calm
This is one reason doulas are so valuable.
They help keep communication:
Clear
Respectful
Focused
So you don’t have to fully step out of your labor zone to negotiate.
You don’t want to be clenched, defensive, and ready to fight in labor.
You want to feel safe.
Prepared advocacy is very different from combative advocacy.
And Finally… Pray
Preparation and prayer go hand in hand.
Pray for:
Wisdom
Discernment
Favor with your birth team
Peace that transcends understanding
You can do all the research in the world and have everything mapped out…and then in labor, you may feel a strong nudge from the Holy Spirit to pivot.
That’s okay.
But you’ll feel more confident making that pivot if you understand what you’re pivoting from.
Give yourself the gift of doing your due diligence ahead of time.
Then walk into labor with:
Preparation
Unity with your support person
Clear communication
A heart anchored in the Lord
I truly believe that makes all the difference.
If you want help knowing what to research and how to prepare for birth decisions ahead of time, I recommend downloading my free research checklist.
