Hep lock really hurt first labor-- preparing for second labor and wondering if that's normal

[Anonymous]

I second the suggestion for topical lidocaine. I had a HORRIBLE experience with my first labor heplock, moreso because needles/arm sticks don't usually bother me so it was unexpectedly shocking. I asked for topical lidocaine for my second labor and it made a WORLD of difference. They even had to do my IV twice (nurse forgot to secure the first one and it popped out during my next contraction...) and I barely noticed. (Yes the lido is injected but its a tiny prick compared to the IV.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can tell the L&D nurse at the hospital that you had a really negative/painful experience with the saline lock the first time around, and that you would like to request that someone very skilled do the placement (there are generally specific nurses, residents, etc. who have a reputation for being able to get one in smoothly and on the first try). Also I think making sure it's not in your dominant arm if possible, and that it is not anywhere near a bend in your wrist or elbow, can help (though it sounds like that wasn't the issue the first time).

With my second baby I received antibiotics through a butterfly needle -- midwife put the needle/catheter in, put the medicine in, then removed everything. My current provider says they can do that this time if it appears that I'll only need one dose of antibiotics so I'm hoping to go that route. With an epidural though you'd need to saline lock to get fluids, etc.

PP's suggestion of asking for lidocaine is a really good one. And I think if it really bothers you it would be worth asking them to redo it...it could have been that they put it in poorly and that a better placed one would not have bothered you as much.

I agree with this -- there is a huge variation in skill between different nurses, techs and phlebotomists! I hemorrhaged after my birth and had about a million IVs put in (plus all the blood draws you have during pregnancy anyway). Some of them hurt and bruised like hell, some of them not so much. By the end I had so few good veins left available they had to bring in a nurse who was their best "stick." I'd do exactly what this PP suggests and tell them you've had bad experiences in the past and request their most gentle stick available that day.

[Anonymous]

I found it very uncomfortable, but it probably because it was placed at my wrist, below my thumb. It made it difficult for me to bend it.