Your due date is just around the corner! As soon as you're admitted to the hospital, you will be given an IV during labor.🙂  

An IV during labor

💉What is an IV?

An IV line is a flexible catheter that is inserted into a vein to deliver fluids and medications into your body quickly and easily.😃 The IV is usually placed in the crook of the arm, but it can also be tethered in the hand, the wrist or the forearm.💪

💉Refuse to get an IV?

If you plan to labor without medications, your pregnancy🤰 is uncomplicated and you don't need to induce labor, you can refuse to get an IV. Consult with your doctor and practitioner before you decide that you don't want an IV.👩‍⚕️

Reasons for having a routine IV during labor

💉Positive for Group B strep (GBS)

Group B streptococcus is one of the many bacteria🦠 that lives in the vagina and rectum. GBS can be passed to the fetus and cause serious infections in newborns if left untreated. If you test positive for GBS, you will receive treatments with antibiotics💊 during labor.

💉Fluids and medications delivery

Getting IV fluids while you're in labor can help you prevent getting dehydrated.😃 It's more helpful if you can't eat or drink during labor.

If you want an epidural during delivery, the IV will help you get fluids and medications in case the pain relievers cause your blood🩸 pressure to drop. If you're having a C-section, the IV is used to administer necessary medications for the procedure😊.

If your water breaks but labor doesn't start or you're pregnant past your due date, or you've developed preeclampsia, your provider needs to induce labor and augment contractions by giving you oxytocin through the IV.🙂  

If you're at risk for complications or something winds up needing an emergency C-section, an already set up IV will be pragmatic and imminent.😁 You immediately get access to medication instead of merely wasting time being untreated.