Hep lock

farmerpinky · January 2013

I will be delivering in a hospital with an amazing midwife for baby #4. The hospital does not require a hep lock if delivering with my midwife, but H is concerned and would prefer I have one.

I was admitted to the hospital during this pregnancy with a massive kidney infection and stones and was in quite a bit of distress while they we're placing my IV. H was freaked out by how difficult it was for the nurse to place the IV with me in that state. He is afraid that in an emergency we might put me and the baby in unnecessary danger.

I do plan on discussing this with my midwife at my next appointment but I want multiple perspectives before I do. I can not have an epidural regardless, due to scoliosis, and I plan on having a med free birth. My midwife is very supportive of this and I feel comfortable with her.

What would be the downside to having a hep lock?

Thanks

Jenilyn and Matthew · January 2013

I don't think there is a downside to getting it placed, especially if you have difficult veins. As long as they'll still allow you in a tub or shower (they should!) and it won't interfere with anything else. I think the worst part would be getting it placed while in labor, but once it's in, it's done. I'm just getting one placed, but aren't looking forward to sitting through the process while in labor. It will give me and DH peace of mind though.

luvmyducks · January 2013

I personally don't see a down side. It is a nice way to be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.

NydaP · January 2013

The only downside I can think of is the potential risk of infection. I had an IV during my first labor. A few days after I was released from the hospital, my husband noticed that my arm was purple. Apparently, I had an infection. My doc prescribed some antibiotics and it was gone in a few days. No big deal.

I think it's a good idea to go ahead with the hep lock. It's like the best of both worlds- you don't have to have the IV and your husband can feel comfortable knowing that if a situation were to arise, measures have already been taken to make things easier.

nosoup4u · January 2013

It might bother you while it's in, but other than that it shouldn't be a problem. I think you can request to have it up higher than your wrist so it's more out of the way.

tokenhoser · January 2013

The downside is that I felt like I had to be careful with my hand not to dislodge it. I didn't have it during labour (it was placed after the birth to give me a round of antibiotics because of the severity of my tear), but it was still a bit annoying for the 24 hours following.

This isn't a huge deal. If it would help you feel more relaxed to know it was there, then it could be a positive for you. I would try to get to the hospital a little before I did (I was 10 cm and ready to push) if getting a hep lock, as most of the reason I didn't get one was that there was not enough time between contractions to want to screw around with that.

Heav · January 2013

I don't see a downside either. I had one with my baby and it didn't bother me at all. I actually vomitted a lot during my labor and had to be given fluids after his birth. I think it was probably best that I was given the hep lock in the beginning b/c I definitely didn't want anything/anyone else touching me after he was born.

BLPL101 · January 2013

luvmyducks:
I personally don't see a down side. It is a nice way to be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.

Completely agree 100%. I had one.

alandals · January 2013

I labored and delivered med free with a midwife in the hospital and had a hep lock. I'm not sure if it was required or not since I refused an IV, but I wasn't bothered by it at all. I was up and moving around the whole time and never noticed it.

farmerpinky · January 2013

Thanks for the responses ladies! I think I want to labor in the tub as much as possible, so I'll ask my midwife where the best placement would be. I really think H's peace of mind is worth the inconvenience of being jabbed.

PansyPants · January 2013

From what you've shared, I don't see a down side.

Personally I have this weird mental hangup that renders my arm almost paralyzed when I have an IV or hep lock, that's why I opt out. It makes me really freaked out and almost incapable of moving but that's just me being a freak.

brennarobbie · January 2013

I don't see a downside either...but FWIW, I didn't have one, never needed one, and was very grateful not to have one. When I requested no IV, the nurse smiled and said "that's fine with me - it'll take me 2 seconds to put one in if you should need it."

Whatever you decide, best of luck!! )

pantherRN · January 2013

farmerpinky:
Thanks for the responses ladies! I think I want to labor in the tub as much as possible, so I'll ask my midwife where the best placement would be. I really think H's peace of mind is worth the inconvenience of being jabbed.

My H doesn't have many strong opinions about how I birth this kid. He just wants us both robe safe. If he told me it was really important to him for me to have a hep lock, I'd do it.

I don't see a downside, honestly.

ahollema · January 2013

The only downside for me would be the discomfort. But like on of the previous posters, I have a serious mental hangup about the hep lock. I'm irrationally bothered by the sensation of having something in my hand/arm and it totally freaks me out. I have a lot of sensory issues, so I think that's part of it. But medically, I don't think there's a downside to having it just in case.

JennyS86 · January 2013

I agree that it's completely up to you - but as it is your 4th delivery, your post partum risks increase a bit, and a hep lock might provide some peace of mind should you lose more fluid than with your other deliveries. good luck!

clariknittist · January 2013

I had one just in case, and it was more annoying after the birth than during. I labored in the tub for several hours - just had to make sure it was covered by a latex glove and couldn't submerge that hand. I am a really hard stick, so even getting the hep lock was a bit of a challenge for the nurses - I imagine an actual IV, had it been necessary, would have been rough. FWIW, I was in labor 24 hours, so at one point I got fluids through it, and that gave me the energy boost I needed to go the rest med-free. Good luck!!

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