IV and Fluids
In a Nutshell
An IV, or intravenous catheter, is a device used to administer medications and/or fluids into your veins. A nurse will insert an IV by prepping your skin, using a needle to access your vein and then the needle is retracted, and a small flexible catheter remains in your vein.
This catheter can stay in your vein for up to a week (depending on your facilities protocols) to administer fluids and medications, like Pitocin (see ”Speeding Up Labor”) or antibiotics.
If the IV remains in your arm or hand, but you are not receiving fluids or medications, it can be capped off in case of emergency or for later use. You may hear this referred to as a “hep lock” or a “saline lock”. Once you have delivered your baby and there are no signs of infection or excessive blood loss, you may request for your IV to be removed.
Dig Deeper
Typically, when you give birth in a hospital, having an IV inserted is a “standard of care”. If you give birth at a birth center or at home, IVs are usually only inserted if you are GBS+. Your nurse will insert your IV into your arm or hand, take some blood for testing and then the catheter will remain in your arm or hand. You will either be hooked up to fluids/medications, or your IV will be capped off until i
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