Placement of hep lock iv

Brissett · March 2014

For those of you have had one of these, did you find it more comfortable in your hand or arm? I'm sure the nurse will place it in the easiest place to locate a good vain but, if you had a choice, is one place better than another?

jennybean80 · March 2014

I'd have them avoid the wrist, I had one very low in the back of my hand and the plastic catheter part ran over my wrist joint and was sooo painful every time they ran my penicillin. Further towards the fingers is fine, or in the arm away from a joint.

jjt616 · March 2014

I agree with avoiding the wrists. I had mine there and was so uncomfortable and annoying eveytime I bent my wrist.

SandiaLiz · March 2014

I haven't been in yet, but I plan to ask for mine in my arm. I really don't like the placement in your elbow pit (don't know what to call that spot?) Because you can't bend your arm! I don't think they use that much, though. I also don't like the back if your hand because then you can't wash your hands! I am going to request arm. My best friend is a nurse and this is what she recommemded.

jennybean80 · March 2014

They probably won't put it in your elbow pit (antecubital space) because it tends to not flow well for labouring woman as they are moving around and bending their arms. They get pinched off and don't work!

kdel09 · March 2014

I just had my baby and I have one on the back of my wrist right now. It sucks! I don't know where would be better, but I can't wait to have it taken out. Every time I needed to get up or use my hand at all during labor it was really painful.

springbaby03 · March 2014

I bitch more about the iv than contractions. Those lil bastards hurt! My hospital nurse explained how they don't use numb gel and they use the largest needle. Ughhh! Last week she put it in the back of my wrist, which makes wrist bending painful.

aLsMay24 · March 2014

More than likely mine will be in my left hand. It seems to be the only place they can get one in and not blow a vein.

pepperedmoth · March 2014

They will usually start looking in your hand, because if they try and fail there they can always move up the arm, but they're not supposed to fail upstream then go back downstream.

However, if you have good veins and they're confident, most people are happiest with a lock in the forearm because it's away from joints and has fewer nerves.

On another note, is mine the only hospital ever that has saline locks instead of hep locks? We only hep lock central lines, and only some kinds of central lines, at that. But everyone here talks about hep locks like they're going out of style (which.....they are. But it's weird.)

Brissett · March 2014

Thanks, everyone. I appreciate your replies! Heading in for a c-section tomorrow morning.

benevolentforce · March 2014

I asked my MW about this and she looked at me sideways before asking if I meant a capped saline cannula (sp?). I was like... sure? Anyway, apparently it's similar with the difference being the use of heparin or saline (and my hospital opting for saline). FWIW, my MW also said they always try to place in the arm (but not the antecubital space) first for laboring women, and remove the next day in most cases.

I don't have any problem getting one placed since I want them to be able to give me drugs/fluids I may need fast if the situation presents itself.

In other news, good luck with you section, and happy (nearly) birthday to your LO!

ETA: I'm not a medical professional so I am just repeating things explained to me. It's very possible I'm not remembering/relaying things 100% accurately.

*Naea* · March 2014

Mine was a saline lock - though I called it a hep lock at some point and they just went along with it and they didn't correct me.

pepperedmoth · March 2014

MadApple said:

FarmBoysWife said:
@pepperedmoth maybe we are mixing up jargon as llama people?
This is probably true. Mine was a saline lock, but I didn't think to specify in my post.

Awwwww, I love llamas.

But yeah, that makes sense! I didn't actually think of that......

jennybean80 · March 2014

lmalear01 said:
@pepperedmoth‌ I think people just use the old term. I have never ever in 12 years used a hep lock, always saline but many people just call them that. I still get told constantly to place a hep lock. We don't even use heparin for our central lines anymore.

Yep, this. People keep using the old terminology even though true hep locks are very rare!

pepperedmoth · March 2014

@FarmBoysWife‌ read your post again. More carefully. ;-)

pepperedmoth · March 2014

Oh, autocorrect......

ETA: Though with my state of mind I wouldn't be surprised if I started seeing llamas everywhere.....

jennybean80 · March 2014

Llama song:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HbPDKHXWlLQ

kaking78 · March 2014

Mine will be in the mid-forearm. I have decent veins there. I'm going med-free (I hope) and want to be able to move as much as possible. I've heard that the one on the wrist is the worst!

If you're worried about the pain, my OB offered to write a Rx for a numbing cream you can apply 5-10 minutes before they insert the hep (or saline) lock. I'll probably take her up on it, because I'll be uncomfortable enough I imagine.

kimberpoo · March 2014

I asked the RN at my hospital tour Saturday about their 'heplock' policy. She didn't correct me but maybe it is saline from PP's comments? Anyway, she said they usually do back of hand or arm (avoiding joints) and tape it down out of the way, then remove it shortly after the birth. idk which would be less painful, but I would think back of arm (at least on me) as that seems to have less nerves. I also told her I plan on refusing the heplock unless things start stalling/heading south/can't drink water/etc and she wasn't concerned about it. OP will need one because of C-section, I just wanted to mention that since it was a concern of mine.

good luck and congrats on your LO's upcoming arrival!!! excited for you!

kimberpoo · March 2014

MadApple I totally agree. There are lots and lots of reasons it would need to be left in! I think the RN was just speaking in general.

jwls84 · March 2014

I only had my IV in for the last 20 minutes of labour with my first, but it was in my forearm and I liked it there. I find when I have had one in my hand (back of hand) it always gets in my way or pulls. My a friend is a L&D nurse at the hospital I deliver in and they only do it in the arm there.

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