just wondering

[threeangels]

I'm curious if anyone out there knows if you have to have an iv when you go into the hospital to give birth. Is it a mandatory thing? It seems like all the hospitals Ive been in made me have the iv as there policy. I would rather not if that is possible. Its one of the most uncomfortable things to me. One of the problems is that they can never find a good vein. With my 3rd child they had to stick my hands 4-5 times total till they got a good enough vein. I hate it!

I'm not pregnant yet but I'm thinking a little ahead at things. Things I would like to do different this time around if I do get pregnant.

I don't remember having an IV when I went in ... I did have to have one eventually as I had to have an emergency C Section ...
No , in fact I am certain that I didn't have anything stuck in me when I was just in ordinary labour ...
Why do they say you have to have an IV?

I've only had an IV when it's been necessary, not as a 'just in case' measure. Surely you don't have to have one if you don't want? It would be assult if they went ahead without permission, I'd have thought.

Didn't have one with either of mine - could perhaps be a US thing, though?

I had an IV when they wanted to speed up the contractions. The stupid woman put it in my elbow, so I bent the needle while holding on to the bars to help with the pushing. They then put it in my hand, and I promptly did the same thing. Finally they put it in my other elbow and strapped the thing flat, which was bloody uncomfortable and no help at all. I had to spend the first night with an arm strapped flat, catheter, packing, stiches and massive bruises everywhere.

Can anyone help me out on the Quick Question thread please?

3angels, hospital/medical things are very different in the usa than in england. You should ask your ob/gyn. There may be a specific medical reason why they want to give you an iv.

Happened to me too both previous births. I was told it was in case something went wrong and you collapsed they could get a drip into you qucikly.

Agree its very uncomfortable. Won't be having one third time round. I reckon they can get a needle in quick enough if its an emergency!

When I am on the labour ward I'd say 1 in3 has an IV... usually linked to syntocinon ("the drip" or epidural but if you have a straight forward labour you don't see the thing !

In France, you get in and you get an IV... just in case you need something later.... they can always put a saline solution or something

Thanks everyone. Now that I'm thinking about it I think one of the main reasons for the iv is so you keep hydrated since you cant have food or water while in labor. All 3 of my hospitals were the same. I could only have ice chips. I also do agree that maybes its incase something did happen they wouldnt have to stuggle with an iv. Since some have really bad veins and can take time finding a good one. It took so long with me for one of my births.

I thought about looking into a midwife birthing program. We have a really nice birthing center here which has been around for so long. I just hate all the machines, ivs and restrictions that the hospitals have. The only problem I have is if something went wrong I would not be in the hospital which would be much faster. I only had a couple problems in my 3rd pregnancy but I dont think I'm considered high rest.

sorry meant high risk.

threeangels, it does sound as if birth is treated very differently in the states. We're generally allowed to eat and drink in labour here (or I was, anyway, positively encouraged to to keep my strength up). Isn't the c section rate higher there? In which case they would want you to not eat or drink in case of surgery. Just read Misconceptions by Naomi Wolf about the whole subject of childbirth in the states, very interesting. Good luck with finding a midwife practice.

Hi WWW I was reading a big reason for not being aloud to eat and drink was incase you needed anesthetic in an emergency and you vomited the food could be asparated into I think it was the lungs. It also said unless its an emergency c-sec then most op for an epidural instead. I always wondered why I couldnt eat during labor. I guess it makes sense that some do get sick under anesthetic.

I understood that eating and drinking in labour was okay, too, WWW. There are very few true emergencies in childbirth, Threeangels, where you wouldn't have time to tranfer. A competant MW should be able to spot the signs of anything going wrong well before it gets to the emergency stage.

Personally I really couldn't face anything to eat during labour but was constantly drinking water - which I'm sure it good because I lost plenty of fluids in sweat. I had to have the syntocinon because my contractions slowed down butthe iv was not inserted until required and my entire hand was bruised from it although at the time I didn't feel it - like I didn't feel the injection in my thigh....

Threeangels: where do you live? I ask because it sounds like you live in the States. I think IVs are alot more common as a standard labour thing there than in the UK (but I may be full of rubbish?).

Never have any of my British friends said they weren't allowed to eat in labour. I did throw up first time, but not much; I think it was better to keep my strength up by eating fudge & drinking liquids. Banning women from drinking water in labour is barbaric, methinks!

I think i'm going to ask to be able to eat and drink while in labor. My labors went so fast that it was really the last thing on my mind. At least the eating part. I do remember wanting to drink just water and they told me only ice chips.

I wonder if you insist on doing something will they let you. Like not having the iv or being able to drink. I want to be able to make my own choices as long as their not harmful to me or my child. Hospitals are so routine in procedure. I like the midwife concept about the women doing things how she pleases.

Zebra I do live in the us. When I went into the hospital for all 3 kids they pretty much done the iv automatically. That was one of the first things they did. Its always been the normal thing. I just cant stand the iv above all.

Different hospitals do very different things don't they? - as do different countries....!
Basically, I believe most units in the UK encourage a light diet and free fluids in labour in order to keep your strength up - no good being totally exhausted when it comes to pushing a baby out! Similarly, an IV is only sited if the woman is considered 'high risk' (ie previous c/s) - this would be 'flushed' at regular intervals with saline solution to keep it patent until post delivery - as most of you pointed out, they are not the most comfortable of labour accessories!

I understand lots of units in the US don't encourage eating and drinking in labour, which I personally feel is unfortunate. Large studies have shown that those women allowed food and drink labour better and more quickly overall - whether its because the whole situation feels a little more 'normal' (?) so its a psychological boost, or just because their sugar levels don't dip too much and they have the extra bit of strength they need. Whatever, the research points overwhelmingly to allow diet in labour - some even suggests this should extend to all women 'high risk' or otherwise - are we not guilty of increasing thei risk if we deny them food and drink?
Research also shows that a person would have had to be nil by mouth for an extremely long time, in order to reduce the risks of aspirating stomach contents (mendelsons syndrome) - indeed, it points out that a person who has been nil by mouth for some time will be at increased risk of problems occurring, as the stomach acidity will be raised, therefore any aspirated contents would be more damaging.
Any woman requiring an emergency c/s will have 'cricoid pressure' in theatre - whereby the anaesthetic nurse applies pressure to the windpipe to prevent aspiration. This would be routine.
It is unlikely that a woman requiring an emergency section would be offered something to make them sick, as the time factor would be important - they would just get on and perform the c/s.
So, eat, drink and be merry if you can! Should also point out that it's usually only woman in early(ish) labour who like to eat and drink - try offering a woman a sandwich at 9cm dilated, and she may just throw it back at you!

I wasn't allowed to eat or drink during labour the second time (UK hospital) - it was syntocynon drip, with previous c- section. I think they thought another c- section this time was possible. The cup of tea after the birth was the best I've ever tasted!!

Also had an IV which they had great problems getting in - I've still got a scar on my wrist where they went right through the vein!

BTW, with my first labour, I was being induced, nothing was happening, so went off to have a big dinner in the hospital canteen. Straight after this, I was monitored and dd had gone into major distress so they did an emergency c-section. Had to take drugs to prevent aspiration of stomach contents, but no pressure to windpipe (that I can recall, it's all a bit of a blur!)

Just to clarify - no cricoid pressure necessary if you have emergency c/s with a spinal/epidural - basically you are alert and able to breathe for yourself, so no risk of aspiration.
The problem occurs when you have to have a general anaesthetic for an emegency caesarean - then you are given muscle relaxants, and the risk of aspiration is theoretically greater.
I suspect you had an emergency caesarean whilst still awake Caroline5 - if you had it under GA, you would have been asleep (or just drifting off) whilst pressure would have been applied to the windpipe.

Yes, absolutely right, leese. I had a spinal and was awake. They did still seem a bit bothered about me just having eaten, though.

Probably because, very rarely, a routine/emergency caesarean under spinal will turn into a 'real' emergency if you like - for example, you start to bleed very badly, and immediate action is necessary - occasionally you are then put under a GA to avoid the trauma as such. Therefore, the staff will always be interested to know your pre c/s food intake - just in case - and I stress again how rare instances like this are...