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've had one only with 2 of 4. I didn't start off with them though and only had them when things stopped going smoothly (velamentous cord insertion and ruptured cord/haemorrhage with DC3 and cord prolapse, retained placenta/haemorrhage woth DC4).

Its not routinely done as far as I know and if you needed a canulla they will be very sympathetic to your fears. Please don't let your fear make you not have children if you want them 🌸

DC1 - I had one for my epidural but had I not had one then I still would have needed one as I became very dehydrated and needed emergency rehydration

DC2 - I had one for my epidural (which didn't actually work anyway so was pointless)

DC3 - I had one for my epidural and also for something else but I can't remember what. Tbh they had a hard time doing it and 2 people attempted it. I won't go into detail but in the end it was removed and redone by the anesthetist who did it without me even noticing and in a split second. I would urge you to put something in your notes alongside your phobia asking for it to be done by the anesthetist who has a lot of experience - it's their job after all.

I also had to have a canulla 2 weeks before labour with DC3. I'd had my stretch and sweep but it made me bleed excessively and I was admitted to hospital overnight. They put in a canulla in case it was needed (it wasn't). The person who did it wasn't very experienced and I had to tell them to stop the first time. They managed in the end though.

The last thing I want to do is worry you. Just prepare you. I think you're doing the exact right thing in having you cbt. Do speak to your midwife about this though and see what they say.

I didn't even notice them putting in canullas with DC 1 and 2.

Do you find it helpful watching the videos? I'm only asking because I'm not keen on needles and I hope by not looking, very deliberately looking somewhere else until it is over . I find the thought of a cannula much worse than the reality (and I've had a lot...not all childbirth related), but I have to make myself not think about it too much while it is there, which isn't to hard because I can't feel it once it is in and I try not to look either.
I'm not sure I'd find the videos at all reassuring, but realise your reasons for feeling weird about it might be very different from mine.

I could NOT watch a video of it and I really can’t see how that would help. In the end there was so much going on and there are so many things up with your body that it’s just not something that bothers you. And I say this as someone who had to take my husband and mother to my blood test and cried when I had to go in.