Assisting In The Care Of An Infant With An IV

You may be apprehensive the first few times you hold your newborn. It will become lot more straightforward very soon. Hold, cuddle, and play with your baby as often as possible. An IV can be given to an infant while it is still able to play. The cannula and taped regions must remain dry while washing your newborn. Ask the nurse to help you bandage the IV before you go in the shower.

You may need to gently grab your baby's hands at times to keep the Home IVS from slipping.

As you reposition your child on the cot, take care not to grab, tug, or restrict the IV tubing. Make sure that your baby is resting on the tube by looking at him or her. Hang the tubing from the side rails of the bed.

·        If the IV is in your baby's foot, do not let him stand.

·        If the IV is in your baby's scalp, do not place his or her head on the side where the IV is.

·        How to Care for a Child With an IV

·        The IV allows your child to continue playing, reading, and engaging in other activities they like while they are receiving treatment.

The cannula or taped components should not be allowed to get wet while your child is in the bath. Insist on seeing a demonstration from the nurse on how to do this.

When your child gets in and out of bed or moves about, make sure the tubing is not grabbed, tugged, or occluded.

The IV tube should never be placed in the child's back or on his or her stomach.

·        In what manner is fluid flow controlled?

·        During the time that the IV is in place

Nurses will check on your child every hour, whether he or she is awake or asleep. Using their hands and comparing the IV site to the other side of the patient's body, they will ensure there are no issues. One of the most common problems is that of infiltration. Instead of going into the vein, IV fluid is delivered into the skin once the cannula is withdrawn.

·        Signs of infiltration include redness, puffiness, and pain.

·        These symptoms will go away in a short period of time.

·        After an infiltration, the IV is stopped and re-started in a different place.

·        The nurse may use warm or cold compresses to reduce puffiness.

·        Skin irritation around or in the vein where the IV is put (phlebitis).

·        Symptoms of skin irritation and phlebitis include redness, itching, puffiness, and pain in the affected area.

The most prevalent causes of phlebitis include antibiotics, calcium, and nutritional supplements (parenteral nutrition - PPN or TPN). If discomfort or phlebitis develops, theHome IVS is removed and reintroduced in a different place. The nurse may use warm compresses on the afflicted region to help your child relax.