Did you have an IV 'just in case'?

So the m/w told me the hospital policy for VBAC's is continuous monitoring and an IV put in JIC! No thanks!

I don't see why it's necessary! I am not having continuous monitoring, forget it. And I really don't want the IV thing in. That's just like saying 'ok you can try but something will probably go wrong so we'll have this ready'. And I don't want to be jabbed with needles as soon as I go to hospital, I'm sure that will totally just wreck the mood.

I'm in the m/w program but apparently if I want to refuse these things she has to call the OB in to give me the risks. I said I don't want to be dealing with that in labour and can they just talk to my DH and she said no I am the patient and I have to talk. Not my ideal situation! Don't want to be having to fight with them in labour! So I could have had an appt before labour which she organised for me but then it was cancelled because of the floods and they don't have any more.

So now I guess I have to deal with it in labour! :( I'm worried that at the time I'll be vulnerable and they'll convince me with scare tactics :( My DH will stand up for me and I have my student midwife too. But I don't want those worries in the back of my head that I'm doing something dangerous in labour.

So, did you have an IV? Did your OB/Midwife think it was necessary? Surely it's not that hard to put it in if there does happen to be a need for it? Is it too risky not to have it?

My OB said that it was up to me if I wanted it or not, and she did recommend it. We compromised, saying that I wouldn't have it, however if anything went wrong (ie rupture) then I wanted a general for the c-section, instead of an epidural.

My SIL said that she didn't have one for VBAC #1, but when she had her VBAC2, they automatically put one in and she said that it was the worst part of labour because she couldn't use her hands properly to grip on to things after that. Plus, you know, there's the assumption they put on you that you aren't going to succeed in the first place!!!!

Luckily, my midwives don't have any of that stuff ;)

ETA - and now that I think about it, I'm not really sure what the bung in the arm has to do with an epidural.... :think: But that was the conversation! lol

not a VBAC but the hospital did want me to have an IV just in case for my twins, and I did not agree to this. The risks are that in an emergency (for example if you rupture or haemorrhage) there is a limited time to do everything that needs doing, and having an IV already in place will mean you get the treatment you need slightly sooner. In a true emergency those seconds can make all the difference.

However I was happy to say no, understanding these risks, as I felt that a needle in my hand would stop me from properly relaxing, which in turn would increase the risk of something going wrong iyswim. In a situation like this you need to look at the risks and benefits, and decide which are more important to you.

Hun they can put it an IV in so quickly if they need to in an emergency so the JIK thing is a load of BS really. JIK what? Like you said, it's like they are setting you up to fail and if you don't want it, don't have it. Good luck with everything xoxo

I was thinking too that lots of ppl have VBAC home births and I don't think they'd have to have an IV! So obviously those midwives don't think it's so necessary!!

And I remember having it in my hand after DD was born and I kept asking when I could have it out coz it was so uncomfy and I couldn't bend my hand. Don't want to be thinking about it in labour, and I don't want anything restricting my movement at all.

That's what I thought Tan, it's not like it takes long so what's the big deal? They could just do it at the first sign of trouble. And the stats I've read say there are things more likely to happen than a rupture. The risk of a cord prolapse and other things are higher than a rupture but they don't go making everyone in labour have an IV in 'just in case' of any of those things!! Grr...

i didnt have an IV during labour
but they did come and take blood- why i still dont know but it was damm annoying
its for their convience not yours!! saves them having to do it in a rush if you need it
also i didnt have continual monitoring either- make sure you get your OB clear on both matters before hand!!!
makes a big difference as you can throw at the nurses that you have discussed allready with your OB and that is what you have both agreed upon!

ooh not long now

My hospital tried to get me to agree to an IV upon arrival at the hospital and I refused it. I think it is ridiculous and if they can't be prepared for a medical emergency, then I think they should get some further education rather than giving an IV to women and making them feel like something is going to go wrong from the get go.

Perhaps take in a birth plan and have stated on there that you refuse to have an IV unless it is medically necessary, and keep a copy to also take in when you are in labour. I don't understand why they couldn't let your husband talk on your behalf - my DH dealt with OB's, midwives and other hospital staff for me when I was pregnant with DD2.

Anyway, I hope you have a perfect birth!

with my first I went in for my 41ish week checkup they were not happy with my BP so they stuck the IV thing in and stuck me in an ambulance off to Dandenong hospital! Now i did end up needing it as i was induced and dehydrated as i was not allowed to drink properly. But I will be avoiding it with my VBAC with DD they left it in for the for a couple of days and i swear it was near infection when the took it out it was so sore. If i do end up with one i will be requesting its removal asap!

I had the IV doodat put in 'just in case' for my first and ended up having a totally ordinary birth. Its probably just hospital policy. Post birth, out of all the sore bits, it was the most painful. Grr. They took ages to put it in, and I still have the scar.

Different hospital for my other kids, different policies, no IV doodat.

Just in response to the comments that it'll be easy enough to put in if there's an emergency - if you're dehydrated or have low blood pressure, or even if you're stressed, it will make it more difficult to get the line in. When I had my D&C last year it took 2 anaesthetists and 8 tries before they got a line in; and that was only because one was holding an ultrasound wand over my wrist, and the other one stuck the needle in and wiggled it around until it met a vein on the screen. It took about half an hour to get it in, and I was hysterical by the end of it.

I'm not recommending you have it in JIC, but I wanted to let you know the other side of the debate :hug:

I have had it with both my vbac with dd and ds who wasn't technically a vbac. Like keike said it can be difficult to do in an emergency. They often have trouble finding my veins at the best of times. I found it didn't bother me and it was taken out after the birth.

I agree with the hard to get a vein. I have bad veins too and if they want one in then I dont see a huge problem with it?

I dont think its got anything to do with how they cope in an 'emergency'. Sometimes I think its better for both sides.

In the end its your choice :)

Thanks for all the replies!

I don't understand why they can't just talk to my DH either. He knows what I want and don't want and then if he thinks there's something that I need to talk to them about he can tell them. Maybe I will just refuse to talk, lol, take my ipod and put the earphones on when they come near me.

They can't talk to your DH because legally you must be the one to provide consent. They could be held legally accountable if they did not discuss with you their suggestions.

Yeah, I know, just a PITA. Or even if the m/w could just tell me the 'risks' or whatever that would be better. Just the idea they will have to call an OB in (when I normally wouldn't see one in the m/w program) to talk to me gives me the poos. Like I'm being naughty and they'll have to get someone in to talk to me about it, lol.

Good luck Heaven, maybe just have your DH there with you for the conversation so that you are supported?

I like to think of this part of a VBAC where they question you, tell you all the bad bits, make you think you can't do it, etc. as a test. They want to make sure that you really really want it, and once they know your position and that you are determined they start to support you!

I am going for a VBAC for this bub and I was told that I would have the bung in my hand and I would also have the wirless and water proof monitor on - Im fine with that I can still get up and walk and move and also ghet in the shower.
I have really bad veins and it always takes AGES to ppl to find my vein - so Im ok with the bung in - I just think that IF i reputure then I would like them to get things rolling fast for both bub and me and it would take a while if they were trying to find a vein i the heat of the moment.

Thats just me though and I have the MOST SUPPORTIVE OB - he rocks my world and he is 10000000% VBAC that he will not even mention the "C" word! He was gearing up when he met me to fight me NOT to have a repeat c=sect! My MW if very pro VBAC to - so I guess when I feel supported like that I dont mind the bung and monitoring!

If you dont want it Hun its ultimatly up to you! Good luck for a wonderful VBAC!

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I am going for a VBAC for this bub and I was told that I would have the bung in my hand and I would also have the wirless and water proof monitor on - Im fine with that I can still get up and walk and move and also ghet in the shower.

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I was told that i could get a mobile monitor too. Never happened. I hope that you get yours, sometimes they will promise the world until your in labour and you can't escape.