How long is the IV in for?

[BabyCleo]

So im not afraid of pain, or anything like that. I am terrified (as in ive had nightmares) about having an IV.

I have HG, so I was on IV treatment at 8 weeks for a few days. Let me tell you... I was so petrified of that damn IV I sobbed and tried to get it out. My nurses had to reassure me multiple times the air bubbles wont kill me (that's what I was most afraid of) and no I have nightmares every night about having an IV.

How long during birth will I have it? Can I deny getting one? I plan to have a hospital birth but I want it on the more natural side. Why do they even give you one? If I had to choose no pain meds to prevent an IV, that's what ill do.

Help!

 

[BunnyN]

EI ended up having a Home Birth so it wasn't an issue but before we settled on a HB I planned to refuse an IV. There really is no need to have one routinely. They are used for two main reasons. First to stay hydrated and second to be in place incase medication is needed in an emergency. For the first reason I prefer to eat and drink during labour. Some hospitals don't like you to have anything incase you end up with a CS but the risks are really very minimal. In the case of a very long labour an IV could be useful but in that case you wouldn't need it from the beginning of labour. It can be useful to have a needle in place if you need meds later but you could always get a hep lock in your hand instead. Personally I don't think I'd even want a hep lock, but better than an iv.

 

[Eleanor ace]

I know how you feel, I HATE getting and IV. While I was in labour with my daughter I had to have IV antibiotics and when the MW came back in when it had been put in I was saying "it huuuurts, please get it out!" and she said "don't worry, baby is nearly here, keep pushing, not long!", I was like "not the baby, that's OK, get the IV out!!" . I know things differ a great deal country to country but could you just refuse an IV? Unless it was for something essential obviously, but if it is just for pain relief and you just don't have any will they let you have no IV? If not perhaps you could have the numbing cream, so you can't feel it as much, that might help distract you from remembering it is in, and with labour going on you might forget about it?

 

[sue_88]

I had my IV in my wrist when I was giving birth, it was to administer syntocinon (pitocin) as I was induced. And as it was the hottest day of the year I also had fluid administered through the same line. Honestly, the positioning was horrendous but because my veins are bad in my hand it needed to go in my wrist. Yuck.

All in all though it was in for about 18 hours (in at 2pm, birth at 1am, removed around 8am).

 

[ClairAye]

I had one with my first as they were going to put me on a drip but didn't, then it was used for pain relief and antibiotics/fluids after birth but with my second I had a really straight forward delivery and didn't need one at all.

 

[BabyCleo]

Thanks! Ive been nervous they make you have it but it sounds like I can deny it unless things go wrong. It just freaks me right out... thanks girls ill refuse it unless there is a medical reason. I'll also ask an out that numbing cream!!

 

[Betheney]

I've never had an IV in my life and I've given birth twice... why would they put one in if I'm not being induced or not getting magnesium or antibiotics from a drip?

I did need to go into a diff hospital with a threatened miscarriage and they said its routine any everyone gets one upon arrival in case an emergency arises. I aaid so they have any indicators whatsoever that an emergency might arise? When they said No i told them "then I'm not having one". 20mins later they came in to tell me i have to change into a hospital gown because it's routine, i again told them "no" lololololololol

But the doctor had already seen me and said everything was fine but they needed to put me on the ward while they sort out my discharge papers as i was using a bed in emergency. So putting a gown on while waiting for discharge papers seemed stupid to me.

 

[Rhapsodi]

I was GBS positive so shortly after I arrived at the hospital I got an iv and antibiotics were started. I wasn't even admitted yet when they gave it to me. I went in around 1:30am had an iv by 2am. Baby arrived 10:49pm! It didn't come out until after I urinated twice after delivery (I had an epidural.) which was around 12n the next day.

I had mine in my hand. It did hurt, I hated getting it in due to stupid contractions. I also got so much fluids that my rings didn't fit anymore (the only time I had to take them off the entire pregnancy was during l&d due to all the fluids.

It was nice to have as during pushing I started vomiting like crazy. They were able to give me meds to stop. It was miserable. So besides pain meds that was a huge benefit.

 

[MrsKChicago]

If you don't need antibiotics or pain meds, the biggest issue will be hydration. Hospitals vary in whether they'll let you just drink, so try to find out beforehand. I'm planning to do everything I can to avoid an IV - the whole idea just creeps me out too much, and I know being that creeped out won't be conducive to me feeling safe and laboring effectively.

The rule of thumb if you're allowed to keep yourself hydrated is to drink at least 4oz per hour. My birth class suggests water, broth, or juice, but your hospital may limit you to water. One of DH's jobs during labor will be to make me drink something after every contraction and make sure I'm taking enough in.

 

[BunnyN]

I couldnt face drinking a lot once labour really got going but I made a point of drinking a lot in early labour which I think really helped. I had little sips later on but mostly just to wet my mouth.

Some hospitals dont like you to drink but its not like they can actually stop you if you want to. Personally I think an IV for hydration is more likely to cause side effects than drinking so I'd refuse the IV and just go ahead and drink if I wanted too. They just have to know if you have been eating or driking if you end up with an emergency CS so they can control nausea and keep an eye on you. The chances of choking from drinking water are very small though and even if you havent had anything you can still choke on stomach bile.

 

[BabyCleo]

I will have to call my hospital and ask them about the eating and drinking. I would much prefer to drink water over having fluids through an IV. Im really hoping I have a straightforward birth so I don't need the IV.

Betheney - That's so stupid they made you change into a gown while waiting to be discharged. Whats the point? Those things are so damn uncomfortable.

 

[ClairAye]

I never knew about the drinking thing! I was given my tea on the pre-labour ward with my first though I didn't eat it (not dilating so was sat crying in pain and frustration lol! ) and when I was in labour the midwife asked FOB to go get me a fizzy drink lol! I was getting Lucozade through a straw with my second too just before I started pushing

P.s. I just noticed you are due on my wee boy's third birthday!

 

[Inoue]

I had IV with last pregnancy due to being GBS positive. I agree its not pleasant when they insert it (hand), mine slipped out mid way in and blood went everywhere, was told to look away at that point and given G&A while they re-aligned it and cleaned up the floor & bed. Didnt hurt too much as g&a worked its magic! . I had my IV kept in for about 24-35 hours. I found the hardest thing was trying not to knock it on the hospital bed while trying to sleep - ooucchyyy! Will have this all again in 14 weeks time

As for food/drink. My hospital and I couldn't care less. I enjoyed a cup of tea mid labour . Im hoping I can do the same again this time.

Xx

 

[Srrme]

You can request not to have one, but it all depends on the Hospital's policies. I requested not to have an IV, but their policy required I AT LEAST have a cannula in, just in case. I was going for a more all natural approach, and they waited until the last minute to put the cannula in. It was in a total of 20 minutes.

 

[sue_88]

As soon as my induction drip was started I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything apart from tiny sips of water. So I down the lucozade I brought for energy lol.

About 2 hours later I threw it up, and continued to throw up until 4 am lol!

 

[Perplexed]

The hospital I gave birth in doesn't put an IV in if everything is going okay. I only had one in after I requested epidural. Otherwise I had free hands before that and was allowed to labor as I wished (all I wanted to do was lay down in bed though, lol). And they actually allow drinks and small amounts of food (not that I wanted either tbh).

So definitely find out what your hospital policy is.

 

[we can't wait]

I was scared of the IV, but it really wasn't bad at all. I had it in for labor, and then for a few hours afterward.

 

[BabyCleo]

Thanks everyone Im hoping I don't have to have it, but ill be calling to make sure what the policy is!! If they take it out asap I may be more okay with it lol.

 

[BunnyN]

Just remember even if it is their policy that you have one ypu still have the right to refuse it if you really don't want one.

 

[luz]

My iv was always put in when I was admitted to the hospital. To me an iv was the sign that said I wasn't leaving the hospital without a baby.

Both times the iv was removed a few hours after birth, once my bleeding was stabilized and the Drs knew they wouldn't need to give me any extra fluids.