IV's during Labor & Birth
IV's are used in labor to keep mom hydrated. They are also used to administer pitocin and pain relief medications. Also, in the event that mother chooses to receive an epidural, she must first receive IV fluids first to minimize the risk of her blood pressure dropping too low.
Are there any Risks?
As with any intervention, there are risks associated with IV fluids during labor. One is limited mobility (because of the IV pole), which really can hinder efforts toward a natural birth. More seriously is the common occurance of fluid overload, which can lead to electrolyte imbalance, fluid in Mom's and/or Baby's lungs, disturbances in the heart's rhythm, and lower the amount of oxygen that baby receives. Breastfeeding mothers may want to consider IV use extra carefully, as fluid overload may cause engorgement and make it harder for baby to latch on.
Another serious risk with IV fluids is that they often contain sugars that can adversly affect the mother's and baby's blood sugar levels. These IV's may be called Dextrose or Glucose IV's. Dextrose is a refined sugar that elevates the body's blood sugar levels rapidly, leading to an increase in insulin secretion that triggers the blood sugar to drop rapidly. This results in a sudden energy slump and can translate to maternal exhaustion. Glucose IV's may have an impact on the pain threshold of the laboring woman, as some studies suggest that only a 50g glucose infusion causes a significant decrease in pain thresholds, as well as maximum pain tolerated.
Are there any benefits?
Just as every intervention comes with its very own set of risks, so does it bundle up with benefits when used wisely and correctly. IV fluids can be very beneficial to an exhausted mother whose uterus refuses to keep working and mom refuses to or cannot hydrate herself. Labor is hard work, and if we do not properly fuel our bodies for it, then our bodies will refuse to do the work.
Finding the median
The ideal way to stay hydrated during childbirth is by drinking water, light juices, and eating ice chips. If your care provider just will not go along with that "No vein access" statement on your birth plan, try compromising with a heparin lock, aka hep-lock. A hep-lock is a needle, called an intravenous catheter, that is inserted into a vein, attached to a small amount of tubing, and taped onto the back of your hand. This method provides quick vein access for any medications to be administered or an IV to be attached if needed.
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