I was wondering if getting an IV is standard during labor. If you don't want an epidural, aren't on Pitocin, and don't need any antibiotics during labor, do you still get an IV?
I keep reading stories about people being swollen from being on a constant IV drip of fluids--what is this for?
Who got an IV/didn't get an IV?
I want to be able to move around as much as possible during labor, so I don't want to be on an IV!!
hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts
@Mrsdaredevil: found this!
http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/labor-and-delivery/procedures-and-interventions/routine-iv.aspx
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
I know they at least want the thing stuck in you in case of emergency so they don't have to worry about sticking you and finding a vein, but I don't know if they actually require things to be attached to it.
GOLD / papaya / 10206 posts
I didn't have an I'VE until they needed to give me antibiotics (my water had broken over 36 hours at that point). They may want to put in a heplock, but you can request to keep hydrated by drinking clear fluids.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
I will have an IV because I tested positive for Group B Strep.
I believe if there's no medical reason you can deny the IV?
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
they had to give me antibiotics for group b strep because i went into labor the day before i was supposed to take the test. i would have gotten an iv anyway because i wanted an epidural!
but an iv administers fluids and easy administering of meds if needed in an emergency. i think most women also come in knowing they are going to get an epidural. if you're going to get one, i think it's standard procedure to get an iv.
persimmon / 1453 posts
My understanding is that most hospitals do it because it's the standard procedure and could be convenient later in the birth, not necessarily because there is any medical reason.
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
I'm pretty sure if you don't need fluids you can request to have the IV unattached so you can walk around.
squash / 13199 posts
Because they dont want you to eat or drink during labor and after several hours of not eating or drinking you get dehydrated. If u really dont want the fluids they still put a heplock in your arm just in case you need fluids later in an emergency.
coconut / 8305 posts
It's standard so that in case of emergency they already have a "line"...
You can request a heplock so that they have they're access but you aren't bound to the bed....
You can also ask about staying hydrated yourself, or just sneak it. Eating & drinking in labor are so important for natural progression & so that you have the energy needed.
pomegranate / 3388 posts
I think it depends on the hospital. They weren't going to give me an IV at my hospital due to my natural birth plan. When that went completely out the window, then I ended up with an IV so I could have a pitocin drip. ...and yes, I ended up massively swollen after I gave birth, even though I didn't have any swelling during pregnancy. It took a few days, but the swelling did go down pretty quickly.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
You can still walk around with a IV...at least at my hospital.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
I was induced, but they also used my IV for a saline drip (for hydration) although I was allowed to drink and eat as much as I wanted.
I think that as long as you have no risks, you CAN get up and move. I actually received a pamphlet from my midwife that lists the rights of women in labor/delivery and one of them is the freedom to move around as they please as long as there is no medical reason to keep them confined to a bed. You can look it up if you're worried about the hospital not allowing it.
eggplant / 11287 posts
@runsyellowlites: i have snacks and juice packed in my hospital bag!! I am totally going to sneak it.
pomegranate / 3008 posts
I had a hep lock put in so if during labor something went wrong and they quickly needed to give me something they already had access to a vein but I didn't get hooked up to anything until after delivery when I got some pitocin to help my uterus contract during recovery.
persimmon / 1135 posts
I ended up with 2. One with 2 ports for pitocin and antibiotics because I spiked a fever after my waters had been broken for about 30 hours. I think I also had saline at some point through one of those ports, but don't really remember. The other port was for Remifentanil, the drug I ended up having at 35 hours when I couldn't have an edpidural due to risk of paralysis.
If things had gone as planned, I wouldn't have had an IV at all...
pomegranate / 3414 posts
I was induced and my IV was put on a pole that I could bring along with me when I walked around.
apricot / 384 posts
I got an IV of magnesium because my BP was through the roof. Then later with the epidural.
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