group b strep and natural labor

[Anonymous]

There have been a number of threads on Group B Strep but none have addressed the problem of having the antibiotic IV when you are laboring without an epidural and therefore moving around a lot? Has anyone done this and how did it go?

[Anonymous]

They can set up the IV so that it's only attached to you when you're receiving the antibiotic; a needle stays in your arm, but they detach the tubing. Believe it's called a hep lock?

[Anonymous]

Thanks! How long does it take to administer the antibiotics each time? And does the hep lock hurt when you are using your wrists to hold labor positions?

[Anonymous]

I don't remember how long it took--I'm sure someone else will post though. It's been a while.
I had an epidural around 6 cm, but I don't remember the IV bothering me before that when I was moving around.

[Anonymous]

I can't remember the exact amount of tme between I seem to remember ithe antibiotics took 15-30 minutes to administer (each of the two doses). Also, make sure that you get an experienced nurse to put in your heplock. It's much more tricky than the IV.

[Anonymous]

Sorry that should read but instead of between. Each dose was 15-30 minutes, and the nurse had planned to administer the dose every four hours. Since my labor progressed more quickly than anticipated they administered the second dose before 4 hours.

[Anonymous]

They can set up the IV so that it's only attached to you when you're receiving the antibiotic; a needle stays in your arm, but they detach the tubing. Believe it's called a hep lock?

Yes, this is (mostly!) correct. A needle does not stay in your arm; it is a small plastic catheter. The antibiotics take 15 or 20 minutes to go in, and then they unhook you from the pole, leaving just the "heplock" in place. Also, you can still stand up and move around as much as you want when you are getting the antibiotic -- you just have to take the pole with you, which is kind of annoying but definitely not impossible.

If your heplock hurts at all (this does happen sometimes, though normally it does not hurt), you could also request to have it removed altogether, though obviously you will need to be re-stuck the next time. Most nurses wouldn't be happy about this choice, but if it's what you want it is certainly your right to do so.

[Anonymous]

Most hospitals require an IV regardless of groupB. I had the heplock and no epi. It wasn't a problem to move around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most hospitals require an IV regardless of groupB. I had the heplock and no epi. It wasn't a problem to move around.

Maybe we could survey the group but I don't think this is right. If you are laboring naturally most won't make you have an IV unless there is reason. VHC has this practice.

[Anonymous]

I've attended births in most of the area hospitals, and ALL of them require an IV (or heplock as an alternative). Of course in some hospitals it might be easier for a mom to refuse the IV (or heplock) but all hospitals want you to have one, no matter how you are planning to deliver. You have to have an out-of-hospital birth in order to not be hassled about getting an IV.

[Anonymous]

Hassling you to get one and requiring you to get one are different though. If you're allowed to drink and eat, which you often are now, and you don't need antibiotics, what's the IV for?

[Anonymous]

Hassling you to get one and requiring you to get one are different though.

Unfortunately not very different. I am almost positive that all hospitals in this area officially require it. That said, there are varying degrees to which they will try to coerce you to follow their policy, and that depends a lot on your nurse or doctor, and of course on how much you resist. That said, the patient does have the right to refuse, regardless of the "requirement." All patients should know their rights!

If you're allowed to drink and eat, which you often are now, and you don't need antibiotics, what's the IV for?

To have an "open vein" so that if something extremely rare happens (say, a severe hemmorage after delivering) they will have immediate access to your veins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've attended births in most of the area hospitals, and ALL of them require an IV (or heplock as an alternative). Of course in some hospitals it might be easier for a mom to refuse the IV (or heplock) but all hospitals want you to have one, no matter how you are planning to deliver. You have to have an out-of-hospital birth in order to not be hassled about getting an IV.

I had no IV at Virginia Hospital Center. I was offered several times, but declined. Wanting you to have one and requiring you to have one are two different things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've attended births in most of the area hospitals, and ALL of them require an IV (or heplock as an alternative). Of course in some hospitals it might be easier for a mom to refuse the IV (or heplock) but all hospitals want you to have one, no matter how you are planning to deliver. You have to have an out-of-hospital birth in order to not be hassled about getting an IV.

I had no IV at Virginia Hospital Center. I was offered several times, but declined. Wanting you to have one and requiring you to have one are two different things.

Do you recall what you said and how you said it when you declined? I want to stand firm without making an enemy of the nurses or having them think I don't respect their position.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I am almost positive that all hospitals in this area officially require it.

I find it pretty annoying that some people on these boards make statements as if they know something for sure. Seriously, don't post something like this if you're "almost positive." That helps no one.

IVs are *not* required at all hospitals in the area.