Heplock... deciding whether to get it - Page 2

[RoadBuddy]

Originally Posted by SashaBear

Yep if you have a heplock or IV in, those doctors and nurses will put stuff into that you don't know about. I'm pretty sure I had pitocin after labor even though I didn't need it. And I still don't know what was put in my IV right before my c-section.

Yeah, definitely - that's why I never consented to an IV. But a heplock just is the port for the IV - there's no IV bag, nothing going in. So no way for them to sneak something in, because it would be impossible not to notice them putting the IV part in the heplock, hooking up a bag of something and attaching it to you!

[lizsky]

I'm needle-phobic but thats exactly why I'm declining the heplock...I can't stand the idea of having a line in my arm/hand when I want to actively use my arms and hands to labor in different positions and brace against a squatting bar or DH, and make use of the tub or shower.

I know there's always a chance they'll need to put an IV in, but like PP have said, they SHOULD be able to do that quickly and easily, and I personally would rather wait until its necessary.

[Sweetiemommy]

I opted to have one for my homebirth this time around. That is due to my history of postpartum hemmorage, which happened again this time, so I was glad I had it ready to go. But again, this is unlikely and I think it will probably lead to more interventions in a hospital setting.

[caned & able]

be "open to drugs, if you need them." Well, yeah, I suppose, but I'm sure if I came in saying I wanted drugs, the wouldn't respond with, "Well, of course, you're open to natural childbirth first."

Have you said that to them? I think HCP need to hear how ridiculous they sound when they say things like that to every patient.

[limette]

Originally Posted by lizsky

I'm needle-phobic but thats exactly why I'm declining the heplock...I can't stand the idea of having a line in my arm/hand when I want to actively use my arms and hands to labor in different positions and brace against a squatting bar or DH, and make use of the tub or shower.

I know there's always a chance they'll need to put an IV in, but like PP have said, they SHOULD be able to do that quickly and easily, and I personally would rather wait until its necessary.

That was why I couldn't consent to one. I was 9cm when we transferred to the hospital and I was able to consent to one then because my needle phobia was the last thing on my mind at that time. I couldn't consent to one any earlier than that, which my midwives were not happy about.

As soon as the baby was out, my iv flew right out with her, just popped right out of my hand. My doula said "wow you really didn't want that in there."

[lucy_v]

Thanks, everyone, for all of your insightful replies. I like the EMT analogies; they really put it in perspective. Plus, I am hoping to be mobile (doing yoga, possibly showering or using their tub), and I didn't even think about how a heplock might get in the way. I figured no tube, no big deal, but I can see where having something stuck in my arm/wrist/hand would bug me while trying to get comfortable.

So, I'm going to say no to the heplock. Thanks again for all of your advice!

[SallyN]

For the OP, with the scenario you've described, I'd decline the routine hep-lock.

For others who have chimed in with fears/concerns about IVs interfering with labor...
My first birth was augmented with pit... the IV was in the top of my hand and it SERIOUSLY impeded on my ability to use that entire arm.
My second birth I had a hep-lock (unfortunately my CNM's hands were tied on that... if I refused she wouldn't have been able to continue attending my labor/birth due to her supervising doc's policy.) The second time, I had it put in my forearm. And also made sure that I was calm and relaxed for/during the insertion. (I learned during my 3hr glucose that any anxiety made needle pricks significantly painful for me but if I was calm then it was less of an issue.)
For second labor we never hooked anything up to the hep-lock, and it didn't interfere with anything.
Anyway, wanted to share my story for anyone facing a non-optional IV/hep-lock... you absolutely have options as to where and how it's done!

[emnic77]

I haven't yet read the other responses, so apologies if I'm repeating things others have already said...I am *strongly* against routine heplocks.

I had a heplock for my first hospital birth, and refused for the second. When there is an open line to your system, it makes it a whole awful lot easier for them to just put something in there...yes, it has to go through an IV bag, but if you start getting fluids for whatever reason (I did with my dd because the shot of nubain I had first made me throw up and get dehydrated, and then the subsequent epidural spiked my temperature) you may not notice something else being hooked up to it. Or after birth, you're on a baby high and might not notice what's being attached to your IV either.

I am not convinced that I wasn't given pitocin without my knowledge or consent with my dd's birth - I'll never have any way of knowing, I never requested her records (and now at 11 years later I'm sure they don't even exist anymore) but if someone's going to give me something, I don't want it to be that easy. I don't mind being stuck multiple times, and I found the heplock to be really annoying and distracting because I was worried about catching it on something, and if I moved certain ways it hurt.

It wasn't a problem for me to refuse it with my second birth, and if I were having a hospital birth again and it were a huge monstrous problem, I'd let them put one in and then just take it out myself when no one was looking. There really absolutely no need for one except to make the hospital staff's lives a bit easier. They can get a line or injection or IV started on you quickly if need be, the heplock just makes things easier on them, and your labor and delivery is not about them.

[ishyfishie]

It seems you've reached a decision, but I meant to post before and forgot to come back to the thread, so I'll post now! For my birth plan with dd1, I was willing to accept a hep-lock in place of an IV if necessary. When I was admitted, I said I didn't want it when they asked, so the nurse just said, "Okay, it'd just save you a needle stick if you need it later." Yeah, I didn't care, lol.

However, 5 days postpartum, I ended up back at the hospital with an unexplained blood pressure spike. They put a hep-lock in my hand because we didn't know what they'd need to give me to get my blood pressure under control, but then I waited in a room for HOURS before they came in to put in an IV. The hep-lock was so painful in my hand, I couldn't use that arm to support dd while she was nursing. When they said I needed an IV, I insisted they take out the hep-lock and put a regular IV in my elbow. I don't know if it was the nurse who put it in, the location, or just some weird quirk of mine, but I can honestly say I would have ripped the darn thing out if it had been in my hand during labor. I would rather have a regular IV inserted later on if necessary than deal with the hep-lock "just in case," but I didn't know that until I experienced having one in.

[gcgirl]

Originally Posted by Sk8ermaiden

Her husband is an EMT, and said, "Really? You mean to tell me that I can place an IV in the hand of a person upside down in a totaled car, at night, in the rain, but you can't do it here in your shiny hospital in the best medical conditions?"

I always loved that.

Yes. I have always wondered why getting an IV in would be such a big deal. Don't they hire trained, professional staff?

[caned & able]

I still think you should consider a home birth. No heplocks required there.

[Amatullah0]

next time, i wouldnt get one(if it were a hospy birth, that is)

DS was hospy, with a CNM, i had a heplock and iv abx twice (for gbs) in labor. after i refused the last dose(i was pushing), and DS was born, placenta too, and i was stitched up, the MW refused to take it out until I peed. It wasnt very comfy, and it made me treat my hand as something delicate. I was more aware of my hand than my son! contractions sucked too, because i wanted to grab something as tight as i could, but i was worried i would damage my hand.

also, it is soooo easy to put drugs in that thing. my mw never mentioned drugs, but if you think yours doesnt have faith in you that you will be able to do it w/o drugs, then its probably best to refuse. i'd also refuse the blood draw, because it sounds like they're just setting you up for drugs.

i wish you a happy birth!

[Right of Passage]

Originally Posted by Sk8ermaiden

Her husband is an EMT, and said, "Really? You mean to tell me that I can place an IV in the hand of a person upside down in a totaled car, at night, in the rain, but you can't do it here in your shiny hospital in the best medical conditions?"

I have horrificially hard to find viens so even in the best conditions it IS a problem for me. When I was in labor with DS1 it took 4 different people and an hour to get the IV in my hand. I ended up needing my gallbladder removed 2 months later. The inital IV took about a half hour to place and several sticks, when I woke up the IV was in my foot. It had blown out of my hand because my hand was moved while I got on the table in the OR. Still knowing as much of a PITB as my veins are I'd still refuse a heplock.

[cappuccinosmom]

I took a heplock for my last two births for a number of reasons.

1. I have terrible veins. I wouldn't want them to have to struggle to find my veins if there was something I needed by IV in an emergency. Should they be able to put one in an emergency? I would think so, but there's no guarantee I'd get staff skilled enough to do it.

2. There was some (valid) concern about hemorrhage, and they wanted a needle in my arm as a "standby".

3. It worked very well in placating the frantic "do something" doctors. OK, you've stuck me, you can get to my veins if there is an emergency, now leave me alone.

Not once did anyone suggest that I use it for painkilling drugs. It was never actually connected to anything.

I found it annoying, and it bruised my wrist, but other than that there was no problem.