Cannulas

[Dustyzest]

I am very needle phobic and I’m currently having CBT for my fears. Today I had to look at cannulas and I just can’t see how I’m ever going to be ok with this. Did you have a cannula during child birth? My therapist says it’s highly likely I’ll have one but a few of my friends said they didn’t.

I had one with my first ( difficult labour), but not the second.

Yes with 2nd but not 1st.
Depends on your birth really.

And when it was put in, there was so much else going on I barely noticed.

Only because I had an epidural.

Nope I didn’t with any of my 3

Depends on your labour. I had one because I was induced, needed antibiotics and had an epidural ...

But it was fine once it was in, and you forget about it pretty quickly.

Good luck! Hope all goes smoothly

I had one (ELCS).

Yes, but I had an epidural and then emergency section. It really depends on how your labour goes.

I did because I wanted an epidural.

I actually hate them. I felt too squeamish to move my hand.

But I loved the epidural so... 🤷‍♀️

I had one because I needed IV antibiotics during my labour because I had sepsis.

Thank you all! I am crossing everything that it’s straightforward (aren’t we all) but it really shook me today when he made it sound like it was unavoidable. I’m banking on the fact that I will be so distracted I don’t notice but I am also very terrified so the thought is bothering me a lot. I spent my CBT session just crying today!

It depends on how labour goes and what interventions you need. I didn't need one with DD1 as I coped fine with gas & air. DD2 ended up as EMCS, for which I needed a cannula - but as a PP said, there was so much else going on by then and I was so exhausted/out of it that I barely noticed them doing it!

I didn’t. I don’t think it’s “highly likely”, is it?

I wouldn't have thought it's highly likely, it completely depends on how your labour goes. I had one (needed just about everything that they can give you intravenously - syntocin, antibiotics, fluids and antipyretics). Presumably all the many people who give birth in MLUs or at home don't have one though?

I gave birth in a midwife led birth centre. I didn't have one.
I'd say it does depends how the labour goes

Ensure your needle phobia is documented on your notes. If you're informed a cannula is required - request a preparation called "Emla" cream - it will "numb" an area, to facilitate insertion of cannula. Needs to be applied at least 20 minutes beforehand - so make sure it gets enough time work. Also, ask who's applying it, to put in two separate places - on the back of each hand (sometimes difficult to insert, especially if you're nervous, and the person may try another site).
The above advice is for routine only.
Best of luck

Long inductions and epidurals. Had one for both of my births.

What country are you in OP? Some countries do tend to more medicalised births. I’ve had two kids and never had one.

I am massively needle phobic. Have tried hypnotherapy and CBT. Neither helped.

By the end of my 5 day labour and section I had 3 cannulas in. One in each hand and one in a wrist.
I don't remember any of them being put in because there was so much other stuff going on that was so much worse!

It's really helped put things into perspective and probably gone the furthest to curing my phobia.
Now as long as I don't look I can just about have a blood test without fainting or crying.

You may be lucky and have a straight forward birth and not need any but if you do it will probably be the least of your worries.

I used to faint at the thought of having an injection/blood taken. I had to lie down with a cold flannel on my head for all of my bloods by the midwife.
I was dreading having one for epidural (and the thought of the epidural made me queasy) but fortunately by that point the pain from the contractions took my mind off it.
I was very poorly after giving birth (not fun), but had to have blood taken sooooo many times, it's actually totally cured me of my needle phobia and I never thought that would be possible. Good luck

I had one but I was in so much pain from the contractions that I didn’t even notice them putting it in. I had to keep it in for 2 days because I needed fluids. I don’t like canulas and I’m quite squeamish but after everything I went through in labour it didn’t seem too bad at all, though I did ask if it could be removed early.

Thanks. I’m in the UK and I’ve got my phobia listed in my notes. Up until now CBT has helped a lot- I’ve been able to watch videos of needles which is something I never thought I’d be able to do, but today was just so hard.

I’m hoping to have a birth with as little medical intervention as possible but open to the idea it may not go to plan at all - I didn’t think a cannula was ‘highly likely’ which is why I panicked today when my therapist said it was.

They just look SO horrific, my fingers feel funny just writing about them. I watched a video of one being inserted like five times over and was in tears thinking what have I got myself into!

I honestly didn't even notice mine being done!

I did for both of my labours. My first one was due to having syntocinon and I was dehydrated, the second one the cannula was inserted as prep because there was a risk I would need an emergency csec, however, it wasn't used. I don't however think they are that common.

I was dreading getting one just because of the unknown, I'm 33 weeks pregnant and ended up in hospital last weekend and needed one for fluids and pain relief it was honestly nothing didn't hurt at all. She tried to put it in my arm to take blood & no blood came out so she took it out and put it in my hand I was anxious but it honestly didn't hurt at all. Are you ok with blood tests?