Author: Barelyboxed

Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 4:41 pm

I have really good news for you….when we’re pregnant, we are much, much easier to "stick." Unless, as sometimes happens in early pregnancy, you have a lot of nausea and vomiting and become dehydrated, the blood volume changes associated with pregnancy mean nice, juicy veins!
In close to two decades of caring for pregnant women, I’d say I only ran across a few women I couldn’t get an IV in or draw blood on. Once you get a positive pregnancy test at home, as long as you have no medical problems or anything unforeseen, you probably won’t need to have your first bloodwork done until you’re at least 6-8 weeks pregnant. Again, best advice is to hydrate real well before going in for draws and ask for a warm pack at the first sign of trouble. My personal rule was to never attempt to "stick" someone more than twice. If I couldn’t get it with 2 attempts, I’d have someone else try once. If still a no-go, it’s time time to call someone with more extensive training or skills. If you’re in the hospital, that might be the "IV team" as they place deeper, more invasive lines, or sometimes even an anesthesiologist is called in to get a line placed. This usually is only necessary when a mother comes in to deliver and needs secure IV access for meds, IV fluids, epidural or other anesthesia. I’ve seen this be necessary in patients with no drug history, by the way. So sometimes it’s just an anatomical thing….and sometimes it has to do with body habitus. So try not to feel embarrassed…you’ve turned your life around and that’s something to be proud of. I hope you conceive soon! It’s so exciting to be pregnant, especially when you’ve planned for it, prayed for it and want it so much.