Arent you scared of the IV they give you while in labor?

Answer 1

I did not get one with my 2nd child, I only got one when I had a csection, and believe me when you are all done with the delivery and hospital stay you will be used to people doing things to you and looking at you, it helps you to loose modesty for sure! Don't worry have them put it in the top of your hand it hurts less there!

Answer 2

usually I wasnt afraid of the IV but recently in my town there was a woman well actually she was just a teen 16 or 17 at the most she had been having a hard labor and she requested an epidural well one of the nurses on staff thought it was just the regular drugs they put in your IV and she gave the young woman the epidural straight into her IV which ultimatley stopped her heart and lungs killing her. However the baby survived and her parents sued the hospital. So yes since I heard that Iam a little afraid.

Answer 3

I know alot of people are affraid of needles. I.V. catheters are not needles though. A needle is only used when first inserting the I.V. then immediately removed. all that is left is a plastic catheter opening with which to introduce fluids to the body.

There are many different reasons for their use, as well as many different possible fluids used. One major reason is for the amount of blood and fluid loss during delivery. Normal Saline (or Lactated Ringers) can prevent a huge dip in your blood pressure (even Normal saline can increase your vascular volume / the amount of fluid circulating thru the body - which can be a life saving measure), and prevent dehydration. Other fluids used are to induce labor if overdue (being too far overdue can be life threatening to the baby, depending on how far overdue), some fluids help treat Pregnancy-induced Hypertension (some people experience life threatening high blood pressure while pregnant. If your blood pressure is too high and stays too high, there is an increased risk of both stroke and seizure. In most cases, once the patient delivers, their blood pressures return to normal), and some fluids help to control bleeding and prevent severe hemmorhage. Another use is to transfuse blood if too much blood has been lost. There are many other uses, these are the most common.

If you think of it as a possible life-saving measure... maybe it won't be so scary. It's only there "just in case". Most deliveries occur with no problems, but it's better to be safe than sorry (in my opinion).

p.s. edited to add that an epidural is different from an I.V. and epidural is anesthesia that does not go in a vein! It is inserted to the epidural layer of your lower spinal column to produce a numbing effect ONLY from that level of insertion down to your toes. It does not circulate through out your body like IV (Intra-vascular = in vein) fluids do. If this were to happen, it could be life threatening, which is why it is closely monitored by a person who specializes in anesthesiology. RNs, LPNs CANNOT insert epidurals (it is beyond their scope of practice, meaning that their is a different level of liabity with this procedure and the governing professional boards require a person to meet a higher standard of knowledge and training in order to provide the service. In short, it is agains the law for an RN or LPN to insert or use epidural medications). This requires advanced training beyond regular nursing responsibilities- only anesthesiologists or anesthetists (a nurse with at least a Master's degree in anesthesiology, additional experience and required training, not a regular floor nurse) can do this. When an anesthetist initiates an epidural... this and the patients response to it is the ONLY thing they are monitoring, they usually are not fooling with the I.V. at all (in some very rare cases, they may order or ask and MD to order an IV pain med (NOT anesthesia - big difference between anesthesia and other pain medications) for uncontrolled pain. In either case, the order would be written and the RN would dispense the order as written). The floor nurse is monitoring this and everything else going on with the patient, but DO NOT fool with the epidural at all. Nurses can and do start I.V.'s on a regular basis. I.V and epidurals are two separate things altogether with different professionals primarily responsible for each. There are a lot of health professionals involved and it can become very confusing to figure out who is who. For sure you have your MD, you will have an RN assigned as your primary nurse (other nurses on the unit may assist if your primary is busy with another patient or needs help with any procedures), and if you elect to have an epidural you will have an Anesthetist assigned to you. Other professionals may also be involved, but only if you and your MD feel that they are needed (i.e. Respiratory Therapy if you have asthma for example, Social Services if there is a history of anxiety or depression, etc...)

Answer 4

With the labor pains I dont even remember the IV pain.

Answer 5

Ahh!! YES! I'm due in 2 weeks and scared to death or everything, especially the needles! I'm a wuss when it comes to that...I can deal with pain just fine, but just the thought of getting a needle stuck in me makes me feel like I'm going to pass out! I just gotta keep thinking, I'll get something great at the end :)

Answer 6

Are you talking about the epidural they put in your spine?
You don't have to have it, so if you're scared, you can pass it up. But let me tell you, after 29 hrs of labor, which ended in a c-section, that epidural was my BEST FRIEND!!

Answer 7

Honey, the IV is the last thing you will be afraid of... or thinking of when you're in labor!

Answer 8

I wasn't at all! Compared to the pain of the contractions, it's nothing. For me it hurt for about 2 seconds then total bliss!! =]

Answer 9

What IV?
I gave birth without one.

Answer 10

no it doesnt hurt.it is less painful then an epidural or the contractions!plus you get used to it after a while.