Hep Lock

GeekMom

What are your experiences with a Hep Lock? My OB has it as a standard practice and I'm not sure what to do. I think it might bother me during labor.

Opinions?

lylipad

My doc/ network consider it a common practice because it makes emergency situations easier. I have a HUGE phobia of needles and the idea of the hep lock really worries me. I wonder if the stress of the IV/ hep lock will end up causing need for the intervention it is meant to help. I have explained this to my OB and she told me that all of the medical advice/ standards they use are suggestions and that as the patient I have the right to not take them. She said this about all of the blood testing, vaccinations, etc. SO consider your reasons for not wanting one before making a definite decision, but they cannot make you have one. My mom was a paramedic and she keeps reminding me that when an emergency arises the hep lock could save several minutes!

 

GL

tokenhoser

I didn't get one until after my baby was born. I ended up needing antibiotics, so in it went after we had cuddled, breastfed, etc. and I had showered. It wasn't a huge deal and I would have been fine with it in labour.

If you're not super into it, labour at home as long as you can. Sometimes things change from the "standard" if it's time to push.

GeekMom

tokenhoser:

I didn't get one until after my baby was born. I ended up needing antibiotics, so in it went after we had cuddled, breastfed, etc. and I had showered. It wasn't a huge deal and I would have been fine with it in labour.

If you're not super into it, labour at home as long as you can. Sometimes things change from the "standard" if it's time to push.

So it wasn't a bother? It didnt catch on things or impede positions?

tokenhoser

GeekMom:

tokenhoser:

I didn't get one until after my baby was born. I ended up needing antibiotics, so in it went after we had cuddled, breastfed, etc. and I had showered. It wasn't a huge deal and I would have been fine with it in labour.

If you're not super into it, labour at home as long as you can. Sometimes things change from the "standard" if it's time to push.

So it wasn't a bother? It didnt catch on things or impede positions?

It was fine. I mean, it was there, but it didn't bother me while nursing or showering or changing diapers. I did plan to get one when I got to the hospital because I'm a tough stick at the best of times and the idea of them digging around for a vein if I got dehydrated scared me. But I got there too late to worry about it, so if my tear wasn't so severe they would have just skipped it altogether. I'm not sure if the antibiotics were strictly necessary, but the idea of an infection down there had me sufficiently scared to do as they suggested.

honkytonk_kid

I don't know about during labor, but I had one for my c/s and it did not get in my way at all while nursing, cuddling, etc after. Make sure they put it in your non-dominant side, preferably in your hand or forearm, not where your arm bends. Get them to tape it down well so that nothing sticks up or could get caught on anything.

It's really up to you, but a heplock was not something I would have argued about. The thought of being stuck multiple times if I become dehydrated was so unappealing to me.

paige0328

I was in the hospital for PTL and kidney issues earlier in the month and had a hep lock in my forearm (which I'd suggest over the hand)... It really wasn't bothersome, they put special tape over it and I was able to shower easily. I personally wouldn't be too worried about it getting in the way during labor.

GeekMom

Thanks ladies! I hopefully won't need it to be there, but just in case!

kami1977

I had a hep lock during labor and it was no big deal.   I got in the shower and everything with it.   After I delivered and we went to couplet care they removed it for me, so it doesn't have to stay in your whole hospital stay.

Lina1030

I had it and didn't even notice it.  Nothing to really worry about.  I did (subconsciously) make sure I didn't use that hand/wrist to support my weight at certain angles, but it never once bothered me.

chicsub

I really didn't like it, so I'm odd man out here.  I'm sure it had something to do with it being dehydrated by the time they did it (why it was needed in the first place) and that I was induced for three nights earlier that week before coming back in labor myself.  I ended up with a c/s, but the bruising and the IV in recovery really bothered me in the hospital and during nursing.  Maybe b/c I had to rely on my hands/arms a lot more after my c/s?  I was supposed to have one for my VBAC (it wasn't standard for either practice I went to during my pregnancies except for VBAC clients).  Luckily the admitting nurse forgot to put it in and when my midwife noticed she didn't remind her.  This was one thing that actually had me anxious b/c I hated it the first time. 

BrideNamedMeg

I didn't have to have one with my DD who was born in the hospital and I was glad to avoid it.  My midwives gave me the option and didn't give me any trouble when I declined.  I don't have any problem with needles, but I didn't want it getting in my way and with all the moving around I did during labor it probably would have.  My second was born at home so no hep lock there either! 

CocoBrynne

I had to have one bc of being GD and I am hugely afraid of needles too.  Seriously the idea of the heplock or IV was more scary to me than any other part of labor as funny as that sounds!  When they first put it in, it wasn't comfortable, and it felt a little awkward, but once it was there for a little while I completely forgot about it, you really can't feel it at all.  Good luck and hopefully you will have an easy pregnancy and not need it at all.

Oh and mine was removed about an hr after my son was born.

MawrtyrB

If it satisfies them and they leave you alone, then it's worth it. They never got around to putting mine in. 

StefandTodd

When they tried to put mine in, they missed.  They were giving it to me in between my contractions, even though I was in transition and 9 cm dilated at that point (and well hydrated), which really DID bother me b/c at that point in between contractions was the only tiny little bit of a break I was getting.  So after the first attempt, her missing, me seeing blood on my arm, and another contraction beginning, I asked for a waiver form to decline it.  They weren't thrilled obviously (since it's standard at my hospital too), but they got me the form, I scribbled my name and sipped apple juice to stay hydrated, and all was fine.