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May 2011 Moms
GBS+ and needle phobic :(
DD's birth was easy, uncomplicated and med free. I was terrified that I would be GBS+ and have to have an IV, but I was GBS- so nothing to worry about.
This time I'm GBS+ and more worried about the IV than the actual birth.
Ugh.
Any tips from needle phobics (or others) on how to deal?
I may be stressing over nothing, as DD was born very fast and had I needed antibiotics there wouldn't have been any time. This one could be exactly the same way.
Children should be seen, and heard, and believed.
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Re: GBS+ and needle phobic :(
Probably be flamed for this, but you can always decline the IV. Even if you are GBS+ they cannot force you to get an IV. Also you could labor at home longer and by the time you get to the hospital it would be too late for the IV to do any good (need more than one round of antibiotic for it to be effective)
Ideas: Numbing cream to help with the IV pain. Have them put the IV in your upper arm instead of your hand (less painful and allows you to be more mobile). Is it the idea of having the needle in you worse than the actual stick? (I know that's the case with me), you can have them re-stick you each time you need the IV (every 4 hours I believe) instead of the doing a hep lock and having it in the whole time.
I am a needle phobic too so I totally understand. I am getting my GBS test on Tuesday and praying it will be negative so I don't have to go down this road.
Good Luck!
I'm GBS+ too and although I can handle being stuck with the needle- I hate seeing it once it's in. Some hospitals/dr. offices use clear tape/bandages and you'll be able to see the needle. Make sure you ask your nurse to use gauze/opaque tape if you have the heplock so that you can't see it.
Put in extra effort to stay hydrated if you know you'll need an IV, and if you know you had a short labour last time, head to the hospital fairly quickly this time. I'm hard to stick, so I'll be asking for the hep-lock straight up when we get to the hospital whether I need it or not. I do not want to deal with dehydration and them digging in my arm/hand.
I do think the antibiotics are worth it if you're positive, but if you're seriously considering not doing it, look into alternative treatments and risk factors (like, when your water breaks impacts the risk to the baby). Be informed, and be frank with your doctor (and the nurses when you go in) about your fears and concerns.
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So I'm GBS+ too and still plan on laboring as long as I can at home. My OB approved it even!
And I feel your pain because I HATE IVs...for me, it's not that I'm scared of needles, I just specifically don't like IVs.
In my OB's opinion, GBS testing has been over-hyped but the AAP has pushed that the risks in doling out antibiotics to GBS+ women are far lower than the risk of passing GBS infection onto your LO as a result of non-treatment. So what do they decide to reccommend? "Let's give antibiotics to everyone who tests GBS+...of which only 1/1,500 women who actually tested as colonized for GBS will actually have the tiniest risk of passing the infection onto their newborn."
FWIW, the CDC says that taking antibiotics prior to L&D is ineffective...that it must be given during labor (https://www.cdc.gov/groupbstrep/about/prevention.html). My OB said that only 1 bag of antibiotics is required to be effective, although at our hospital they try to get at least 2 in. You may want to ask your OB or Pediatrician but sometimes if the mother doesn't get the antibiotics in time, they'll treat the newborn with the antibiotics (ummm NO!) as a preventative measure. I don't know if this is common or not. I specifically asked what our hospital's policy is and my OB assured me that they would only treat the newborn IF they tested positive for GBS infection.
The Baby Blog.
I have no intention of declining due to my phobia, but one thing that is important is time. at least 2 doses 4 hours apart are needed to be effective, and it takes 2 hours after the dose for it to actually start working.
My labour with DD was less than 7 1/2 hours from start to finish and DD was born less than 2 hours after we arrived at the hospital. Membranes ruptured as she was crowning so had I been GBS+ at that point my risk of passing it on was next to nothing and there would have been no time for the antibiotics to work anyway.
2nd labours are often faster, so the plan is to go in as soon as we can. Basically as soon as a friend arrives to look after DD and DH can get home from wherever he's working. As long as there is time for the antibiotics to work I will be having the IV, I'm just terrified of it.
11/2013- Diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis
07/2014- emergency surgery to remove hemorrhaging cyst first RE missed, removed endo from fallopian tubes, hsg done, d&c performed to remove polyphs in uterus, femvue done, put on dexamethasone and metformin
08/2014- miscarriage, second RE refuses to mark down in charts, switch again
03/2016- IUI #1, waiting for results on April 17
Ask them for a numbing shot before they do the IV (I think it's lidocaine?). It makes a HUGE difference.
I'm needlephobic too but that shot is so teeny tiny.
ETA: Also, the meds they give you burn a little. Ask for an ice pack to put over your wrist (or wherever you get your IV). It helped a lot. I also asked them to lower the drip but if you're looking to get the dose quickly, this might not be your best bet.
Thanks for the tip, I will make sure I keep drinking in lots of water. So sorry about your experience last night, that sounded terrible,