How to Avoid Unwanted Interventions During Labor (Even in a Hospital)

Let’s be honest: most moms don’t go into labor dreaming about being hooked up to machines, stuck in bed, or pressured into interventions they never wanted.

But that’s what happens all too often—especially in hospitals where birth can start to feel more like a medical procedure than a personal experience.

If you're hoping for a birth that's more natural, calm, and in your control, even in a hospital setting, you're in the right place. Let’s talk about exactly how to avoid the interventions you don’t want—without creating conflict or drama.

First, What Counts as an “Intervention”?

Interventions can be anything that changes or interferes with the natural flow of labor. Common ones include:

• Induction with Pitocin
  
• Breaking your water (amniotomy)
  
• Continuous fetal monitoring
  
• Epidurals (which are totally valid—when chosen!)
  
• C-sections
  
• Episiotomies
  
• Forced pushing positions

Here’s the key: you get to choose what’s right for you. The problem isn’t interventions themselves—it’s when they happen without informed consent or by routine.

1. Start with a Supportive Provider (Not Just a "Nice" One)

A kind OB isn’t the same as one who supports physiological birth. Ask your provider:

1. What’s your C-section rate?
   
2. How do you feel about natural birth?
   
3. How do you support unmedicated labors?
   
4. Will you support intermittent monitoring and movement?

If you feel brushed off or uncomfortable, trust that feeling. It’s not too late to switch providers—even in the third trimester.

2. Have a Written, Collaborative Birth Plan

Not the rigid, old-school kind. A good birth plan is:

• Short and clear
  
• Based on your actual rights and hospital policies
  
• Written in language staff will respect
  
• Includes your partner or support person

A strong birth plan gives your team a roadmap while still leaving room for flexibility.

📌 P.S. I teach you exactly how to write this in my Calm Birth Plan class (more on that below!)

3. Stay Home As Long As You Can

One of the best ways to avoid early interventions? Don’t show up too early.

Hospitals tend to:

• Put you on a clock once you're admitted
  
• Offer Pitocin if things “aren’t moving fast enough”
  
• Limit movement if you’re continuously monitored

If you’re low-risk, staying home during early labor lets your body find its rhythm naturally.

4. Use Movement + Positions That Help Labor Progress Naturally

Your body is designed to birth. Positions like:

• Hands and knees
  
• Squatting
  
• Hip circles on a birth ball
  
• Swaying with your partner

…can help baby descend, reduce pain, and keep things moving—no Pitocin required.

5. Know How to Ask Questions That Slow Things Down

When you're offered something you didn’t expect (like Pitocin or breaking your water), try this:

1. Is this an emergency?
   
2. Can I have a few minutes to talk it over with my partner?
   
3. What are the benefits, risks, and alternatives?
   
4. What happens if we wait?

This puts you back in the driver's seat—calm, not combative.

6. Bring the Right Support Team

Whether it’s a doula, a super-informed partner, or a best friend who knows your vision—having someone in your corner makes all the difference.

They can help you advocate when you’re focused on labor, remind staff of your wishes, and keep the energy grounded and safe.

You Can Have the Birth You Want—Even in a Hospital

You don’t need to be lucky or pushy or “hippy-dippy.” You just need to be prepared.

With the right plan, the right questions, and the right mindset, you can avoid interventions that don’t serve you—and walk away from your birth feeling powerful and proud.

💻 Ready to Plan a Calm, Confident Birth (Without Overwhelm)?

In my self-paced Calm Birth Plan class, I walk you through how to:

• Create a birth plan that nurses actually follow
  
• Ask questions that get you respected, not dismissed
  
• Reduce your chances of unnecessary interventions
  
• Feel calm, capable, and in control of your birth

👉 Click here to join the Calm Birth Plan class and start prepping for a birth that feels truly yours.

You’ve got this, mama.