Reasons given are that
>if the moms or babes get in trouble the doctor has an open vein for prompt
>intervention.

Having almost bled to death following my second delivery, I was more than
willing for the doctor to order an IV during labor with my third -- but it
was the kind called a "heparin block" where the needle is inserted and taped
down, but no fluids go in.  It's there if you need it in a hurry (I'd have
done much better with #2 if they could have gotten the blood transfusion
going sooner), but doesn't require pumping extra fluids into mom when they
aren't necessary.  Why would a hospital routinely give women fluids during
labor when the heparin block set-up provides the open vein?  Just curious.....

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Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.                         email: [log in to unmask]
Anthropology Department                               phone: (409) 845-5256
Texas A&M University                                    fax: (409) 845-4070
College Station, TX  77843-4352