Saline Lock for IV?

mroy82

I was given a birth plan form by my doctor and an option is to have a Saline Lock with my IV. I'm not sure what that is and what the pros and cons are. All i am really concerned with is , what will be most comfortable ( with our without)?

Can someone explain what it is and why i would or would not want one attached to my IV?

Thank you:)

ChristinaBRN

A saline lock is an iv thats not attached to any fluids or anything. Its just the catheter in your vein and an extension set; what fluids and meds "plug" into. We used to call them hep locks but no one heparinizes lines anymore. 

Basically I think every hospital would recommend you have this. You're not getting anything through it, its just that you would be accessed if an emergency should happen and they're not wasting time trying to get IV access.  

wed2be

I had one with my last pregnancy and plan on it again. I liked it because it allows fluids to be given in an emergency but also allows the freedom to move around/ walk the halls during laboring. Best of both worlds IMO. 

MelleTX

Dumb question - do they take these out after delivery or do you keep it in the entire time you are in the hospital?

littlemac1117

MelleTX:

Dumb question - do they take these out after delivery or do you keep it in the entire time you are in the hospital?

I'm pretty sure they take it out unless there is a need for it? I can't really remember how that all went down with DS1. I know they will usually place it when you come to the hospital in labor, and it stays in throughout labor. I would think it would stay in a little while longer in the case of an emergency after the birth (hemorrhaging, infection, etc.).

nanabanana06

littlemac1117:

MelleTX:

Dumb question - do they take these out after delivery or do you keep it in the entire time you are in the hospital?

I'm pretty sure they take it out unless there is a need for it? I can't really remember how that all went down with DS1. I know they will usually place it when you come to the hospital in labor, and it stays in throughout labor. I would think it would stay in a little while longer in the case of an emergency after the birth (hemorrhaging, infection, etc.).

Or the lovely pitocin drip you get directly after birth to get your uterus to contract back down. It's pretty standard to get one in the hospital. In my birth plan I specifically said no IV fluid, but will get the saline lock anyways.

Ladymouse

Yep.  They stick you for your IV, then, instead of attaching it to a bag, put on a a teeny tiny tube of basically salt water so that, if you need IV fluids (whether it's drugs or for hydration), they don't have to try to stick you while you are further into labor.  The only con is that it's slightly itchy to wander around with a needle in your arm (mostly due to the tape), and there may be slight bruising (as with any injection.)  Pros are you aren't automatically attached to the rack they hang the bags from, they don't have to try to get a good stick when you are dehydrated or have a hard time holding still, and it speeds up the process of getting you IV fluids. 

I should note that the scarier pictures on the google image search appear to be mostly from Army Combat Lifesaver training, where the average soldier learns how to do an IV lock.  As in it's the first IV lock most of them have done, and they are NOT training to be medical professionals.  A nurse straight out of nursing school will have done dozens, if not hundreds - you're not likely to bleed until the needle is removed.  And I'd say at least 75% of the people in my CLS course did it perfectly the first time anyway.

LoveActually4

MelleTX:

Dumb question - do they take these out after delivery or do you keep it in the entire time you are in the hospital?

depends.  If you are eating and drinking well and at no risk of bleeding, they should take it out the day of or moning after.  If you are still bleeding, need antibiotics or fluid through your IV or are at any risk to need another IV, they will keep it in just in case.

Basically it allows the Dr/nurse access to your veins at all times, without you being hooked up to anything.  They insert an IV but just put a "plug" on the end.  They will (should) flush it every day with some saline to make sure it doesn't clot or move outside of your vein (interstitial). 

IMO, It is much easier to have one of these placed than having an IV inserted during an emergency.  Provided you have good veins, you can ask to have your saline lock put in a comfortable spot that doesn't interfere too much.  In an emergency, that may not be the case and it will likely be placed in the crook of your elbow (very uncomfortable to have it there because you can't bend your arm freely).  If you have bad veins, there will be limited options of where your saline lock can go.

Aloe0l

If I remember, our hospital uses these anyways even if they do hook you up to fluids "IV style" - because I remember having IV bags and stuff pre-post c-section, but I also remember still having the lock (which they put in the back of my hand) in a day or two later so they could put in the residual pain meds they were giving me without being attached to an actual IV stand (or whatever the technical term is).  Mine was in for several days.  I hated it, it made my had sore, and was always in the way when I was trying to breastfeed.

sbevmc09

I'm opting for the saline lock/hep lock.  I want them to have vein access for a few reasons, but I'm planning to avoid any IV fluids.  There can certainly be reasons you need IV fluids, but having them standard isn't beneficial and can actually cause some negative effects.  If you're confused about it I'd talk to your doctor about it and/or do some research on your own to find out when the IV fluids are actually beneficial and what your plan of action is going to be.

Chocodoxies

A saline lock is the set up for your IV into your arm. No fluids are going in, but the pathway is set in case of emergency. In the event of an emergency our veins can be incredibly hard to place an IV into and this could potentially save a few life saving moments. I will be having a saline lock, but not a full blown IV as when in labor with my DD the nurses tried to "sneak" in pitocin when I was adamant that I would not allow it. 

rnfromtn

Also please know that it is not a "needle" in your arm.  The needle is used initially to access the vein, and then a catheter is slid down the needle and into your vein, leaving you with a fairly flexible small catheter in your vein.  I requested that it be placed in my forearm.  Also, be sure to tell your nurse placing it which is your dominant hand so they can avoid that arm if possible. 

Beth.1212

As long as I don't need an IV for some reason (ex. medication due to being Strep B positive), I'm opting out of both the IV line and the saline lock. I'm doing this with my midwife's consent - actually, her active support. (She's a certified nurse midwife who delivers only in hospitals. Not to say that other types of midwives aren't valuable - just that she's had plenty of formal medical training and has seen what typically happens during deliveries. She doesn't think that the risk associated with no IV is very high.)

Same thing on the pitocin after delivery. If it's medically necessary I'll take it, but I'm not getting it if it is not. Doctors and nurses tend to deliver it as a matter of course, but many women don't really need it. My CNM is totally on board with this decision.

choppinbroccoli22

Let me be one who argues against-- are you someone who doesn't like to see something in her arm? Would it make you feel like more of a "sick" patient than a woman going through a normal process? Do you think that you would have a harder time saying "No" to pain medicine that you don't plan on having if the saline lock is there and ready to go?

I did not have a saline lock during my labor with DD. I did end up asking for a drug to be administered, and let me tell you, those L&D nurses move very quickly. This was not an emergency, but had it been, I think that their speed was phenomenal without having the line in already.

Kingston54

ChristinaBRN:

A saline lock is an iv thats not attached to any fluids or anything. Its just the catheter in your vein and an extension set; what fluids and meds "plug" into. We used to call them hep locks but no one heparinizes lines anymore. 

Basically I think every hospital would recommend you have this. You're not getting anything through it, its just that you would be accessed if an emergency should happen and they're not wasting time trying to get IV access.  

THis is my understanding too.  I had one with DS.